Supply difficulties have persisted for weeks when the situation should return to normal. Explanations.
Some drugs are still not available in pharmacies or hospitals. This shortage is beginning to weigh on the health system when the situation should return to normal. Point.
Why such a shortage
This year, the epidemics of Covid, influenza and bronchiolitis have been very virulent. So the need for drugs has logically increased. A greater demand than the other years which had been spared by successive confinements.
The global production of generic drugs is mainly manufactured in Asia, so imports depend on certain pharmaceutical factories.
With, in addition, a factor to be taken into account, the increase in energy prices which has an impact on the production of additives such as packaging (glass bottles, sticks, boxes), as reported France info.
Why This Shortage Stands Out From Others
The phenomenon is not new. For fifteen years, the situation has been repeated according to the National Medicines Safety Agency. But each year, the shortages are more and more important.
And this time, it concerns drugs that are very popular and used by the general public for more “common” illnesses.
Which drugs concerned?
L’National Medicines Safety Agency, ANSM listed some 3,000 unavailable molecules such as cancer drugs, antibiotics, insulins or growth hormones.
And in particular paracetamol but especially amoxicillin intended for children, the antibiotic very prescribed for winter infections. The latter is listed in medicinal products of major therapeutic interest (MITM) which must have a minimum safety stock of 4 months.
In hospitals, certain devices are missing, such as syringes, needles, catheters…
When will it be back to normal?
Regarding the pediatric version of paracetamol, the situation “is back to normal”, says Philippe Besset, president of the Federation of Pharmaceutical Unions of France (FSPF).
François Braun, the Minister of Health had however been reassuring on February 3 on Europe 1, claiming a return to “normal” within a fortnight. But supply difficulties persist.
How to avoid this situation?
In addition to the large stocks that would have to be planned at national level, it would also be necessary to agree to pay more for medicines and to agree at European level to make group purchases and set a single price.
It would be preferable to produce drugs directly in Europe to avoid dependence on imports and therefore the relocation of production plants could be a solution.
Moreover, in March the European Commission should present a revision of its pharmaceutical strategy to better manage drug stocks and anticipate future shortages, as reported The world.
Faced with tensions in the supply of medicines and medical devices, the Ministry of Health has also launched the establishment ofa white drug plan, activated in case of emergency. A steering committee will have to identify a list of “strategic” drugs
A danger for patients
Apart from the fact that patients browse many pharmacies in order to find their treatment, substitution treatments are not always equivalent.
The absence of drugs for certain diseases (such as cancers for example) can have serious or even irreversible consequences (with a loss of chance of survival in certain cases).