When European drug authorities gather in Malmö, the drug shortage is one of the main issues.
– The shortage is one of our focus areas throughout Europe and also globally, this is not a national problem, says Emer Cooke, Director General of the European Medicines Agency EMA.
The number of residually reported medicines increased by 54 percent in 2022 compared to 2021. Emer Cooke points out that it is important to analyze the causes more deeply – they are many, she notes.
“Became worrisome”
– It has become worrying to see that medicines that our citizens need are no longer on the pharmacy shelves. It is important that we work with all parts and all actors. For our part, it is extremely important to get a better overview, says Björn Eriksson, Director General of the Swedish Medicines Agency.
Several measures are being discussed, including making it easier to sell medicines in Sweden from other EU countries with the “wrong language” on the packaging. There may also be restrictions on how many tablets of a shortage product may be prescribed to each patient.
In Sweden, the government has also presented a proposal that pharmaceutical companies that do not flag in time that a shortage will occur should be able to be fined. It has been a recurring problem that companies do not provide information, notes Björn Eriksson.
– When the last tablet is dispatched, we can sometimes become aware that there is a shortage.
Threats to patients
According to the Swedish Medicines Agency, the shortage of the products may pose a threat to patient safety.
– Some medicines are absolutely necessary to receive every day. As an authority, we must do everything to ensure that citizens and patients have access to them, says Björn Eriksson.
The meeting in Malmö is the first of 22 that the Swedish Medical Products Agency will arrange during the six months when Sweden holds the EU presidency.
This is why there is a shortage of several medicines in Sweden – hear the head of unit at the Swedish Medicines Agency explain in the clip below:
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