Pharmacies warn: Medicines are becoming scarce - patients are advised not to buy hamsters

Created: 07/11/2022Updated: 07/11/2022 10:59 am

By: Stella Henrich

Pharmacists complain that many medicines are currently not available.

This is particularly the case with cold products.

Three reasons should be responsible for this.

Cologne – The pharmacists cite the material dependency on China as one of the reasons.

On the other hand, the lack of packaging and price pressure from health insurance companies exacerbated the problem.

This is reported by the news channel

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Pharmacist Thomas Preis from Cologne also knows how difficult it is to obtain medicines.

His experience is almost dramatic, "we are now in the summer and many cold medicines are not available now," reports the concerned pharmacist.

The shortage also included fever juices for children and medicines with the active ingredients ibuprofen or paracetamol.

Ibuprofen and paracetamol are becoming scarce in pharmacies.

(Iconic image) © Dimitri Drofitsch/imago

Pharmacists warn: dependence on Asian manufacturers

An important reason for the bottleneck is the dependence on Asian manufacturers - hundreds of active ingredients are produced in China alone, reports

The World Health Organization (WHO) considers 50 of them to be relevant to health care.

The Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices makes this list available on its website.

If a company can no longer produce or does not have the necessary quality, “then the entire production in the world suffers.

And Germany is also involved,” warns Apotheker Preis on n-tv.

Pharmacists warn: No need to buy hamsters

The problem is further exacerbated by the lack of bottles for nose drops and the price pressure from health insurance companies.

Apparently, certain productions are no longer worthwhile for some manufacturers.

Pharmacists therefore try to obtain packaging from other manufacturers.

Since no large quantities are sold anyway, Apotheker Preis advises consumers not to buy hamsters.

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The issue of prevention is much more important anyway.

This includes washing your hands regularly and wearing a mask.

In the end, this not only protects against corona, but also against other viruses. 

Pharmacist Thomas Preis from Cologne

Pharmacists warn: What is important for patients

In the fight against delivery bottlenecks for medicines, the Bundestag passed amendments to the Medicines Act two years ago.

Pharmaceutical companies can thus be obliged by the authorities to provide information about stocks, production and sales volumes of certain drugs.

In the event of bottlenecks, it can be ordered that the companies or pharmaceutical wholesalers must store larger quantities of these preparations in stock.

It is important for patients to know that if there are delivery problems and bottlenecks with certain inexpensive medicines, pharmacies can, according to the law, also issue more expensive medicines with the same active ingredient, and the patient does not pay anything extra for this.

The health insurance company then bears the additional costs.

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