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Shortage of medicines: a pharmacist is looking for a product in the medicine cabinet
Photo: Adam Berry/ Getty Images
In order to prevent drug shortages, the European Union is planning changes in drug legislation.
Among other things, the proposed changes include stricter obligations for the supply of medicines and earlier reporting of shortages, EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said during a session of the EU Parliament.
According to Kyriakides, bottlenecks in antibiotics are a growing problem for many European countries. She announced the proposal to revise drug legislation for March.
“Our goal is and remains to ensure access to medicines for all patients in need and to avoid disrupting the medicines market in the EU,” said Kyriakides.
According to the European Medicines Agency, bottlenecks in antibiotics were recently reported in 26 European countries.
According to Kyriakides, the reasons for this are the unusually early increase in respiratory infections in Europe this winter and insufficient production capacities.
The EU wants to explore all regulatory avenues and talk to companies to increase production and alleviate shortages, she said.
To address bottlenecks, the EU’s Health Emergencies Preparedness and Response Agency (HERA), set up during the coronavirus pandemic, could procure medicines and medical supplies on behalf of member states.
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