Among other things, the renewal includes the goal of bringing the production of medicines back to Europe and keeping medicines available, generally accessible and affordable without restrictions. This will also ensure the long-term supply of medicines in Austria, it said.
“At the same time, the Ministry of Health is already working on implementing measures that will take effect quickly to ease the situation. Among other things, the magistral preparation of children’s antibiotics with the active ingredient amoxicillin in pharmacies has been simplified,” the statement emphasized.
Preparations with the active substance amoxicillin may now be prepared in pharmacies without the approval of the chief physician and the controlling physician. “This makes it easier and faster to give to patients,” the ministry said.
Reserves are to be increased in Austria
“In order to avoid a bottleneck in the future, the Ministry of Health is also preparing an ordinance to significantly increase the reserves of medicines and active ingredients in Austria,” it said. Discussions are already being held with pharmaceutical wholesalers and drug manufacturers.
On Saturday, the pediatricians of European pediatric societies, including Austria, expressed concern in the open letter due to the “considerable shortage of medicines for the treatment of children and adolescents”.
“Not even imaginable just a few years ago”
“The bottlenecks of the last few months mean that treatments that are neither suitable for children nor based on therapy guidelines are possible. This puts the health of children and young people at risk,” the letter says. “Just a few years ago, this scenario of a lack of care in our countries was not even remotely imaginable. We see politics as having a responsibility to ensure sufficient production and stocking of important medicines for primary pediatric care in Europe.”
According to the experts, children and young people need comparatively fewer medications, but these are not easily interchangeable. “In particular, antibiotics, fever and painkillers, medication for asthma and vaccines represent the indispensable and essential basic needs,” explained the doctors.
“The effects of state austerity measures and price regulations hit the medicines sector for children and young people particularly hard. The drug costs for children and adolescents are marginal compared to adults,” the letter continued. “We call on you, as politically responsible persons, to solve this situation immediately in accordance with your official obligation! Our society is not sustainable without healthy children and young people!” Daniela Karall, President of the Austrian Society for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (ÖGKJ), signed for Austria.
