Of the 3,000 medicines on the AIFA list of deficiencies,
"only 300 have no equivalent and are therefore included in the importable list" but
"the alarmist communication is generating a 'rebound shortage' or hoarding of medicines by patients,
worried about having a supply of services, creating further tensions".
This was stated by Health Minister Orazio Schillaci, in a hearing before the Social Affairs Commission of the Chamber, regarding the shortage of some medicines.
Instead, he emphasizes, not replaced by other alternative drugs "are in fact less than 30 references."
In particular, the minister specified, "the list published on 10 January lists 3,197 medicines that are in short supply (including shortages, discontinued marketing, suspensions). Of these, 1,804 are actually medicines in short supply (excluding discontinued marketing and suspensions), but only 1,631 these have a starting date for the shortage after 1 January 2022: the actual production shortages are therefore these, relating to drugs for which the absence from the market declared by the owner is recent".
In addition, "an extract from the list is published with temporarily lacking medicines with no equivalents or alternatives on our market, for which Aifa issues the import authorization" and "potentially critical shortages are those included in this list,
"The problem of drug shortages has mainly been raised by some press bodies. This is not a problem today and has existed for some time but we have all the tools to control drug shortages, there is Aifa which it has always dealt with these issues with a table that has existed since 2015 and I just recently promoted a permanent table with the stakeholders of the sector to monitor and have initiatives in this regard".
Thus the Minister of Health Orazio Schillaci on the sidelines of the hearing which was held today at the Social Affairs Commission in Montecitorio.
