Medicine shortages have worsened further in 2023, with +30.9% shortages reported, according to the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM).
To try to stem the phenomenon, beyond the measures already taken in recent months, the government is presenting its 2024-2027 roadmap against drug shortages this Wednesday, February 21, in
Le Parisien
.
Better list of “essential”
medications
Amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, paracetamol, morphine... A list of 450 drugs qualified as
“essential”
had already been established by the government in June.
The new executive plan plans to
“strengthen monitoring of their availability”
.
From 2025, this list will be updated every year, assures the Minister of Labor and Health Catherine Vautrin, who recognizes that there
“may be holes in the racket but also medicines which should not necessarily be there”
.
Continue the relocation plan
A plan to relocalize the production of these essential medicines was announced by Emmanuel Macron in June, with priority for 50 of them for which
“our dependence on extra-European imports is proven”
.
New production lines should be announced
“in the coming months”
, the executive said today.
The Minister for Industry, Roland Lescure, also wants to
“avoid departures”
:
“From now on, if a manufacturer wants to stop an important drug, he will have to do everything to find a buyer.”
Encourage doctors to offer alternatives
The new roadmap plans to give doctors access to data on drug shortages, to further encourage them not to prescribe those that are in short supply and instead offer alternatives.
The ANSM and the High Authority for Health (HAS) will establish lists of equivalents for doctors and pharmacies.
Review the packaging of medications
Limiting shortages will also involve reducing waste, believes the executive.
Catherine Vautrin says she is ready to
“work on the packaging”
of drugs.
She mentions, for example, a medication which would be packaged in five tablets when it is usually prescribed for a week, at the rate of one tablet per day: it would thus be packaged in boxes of seven.
Better manage shortages
When a shortage occurs despite these precautions, the executive wants it to be identified as early as possible by detecting warning signals to deal with it.
This solution will be based on more precise data management to anticipate without waiting for the report by a pharmacy.
The government also wants pharmacists to limit their orders without intermediaries and to go, in at least 80% of cases, through wholesalers, to simplify stock management.
On this point, the Minister of Health promises checks.
Better support patients
The roadmap provides that patients can have easy access to information on the availability of their medicine in the event of a shortage, rather than going from pharmacy to pharmacy hoping to find it.
Communication aimed at the general public on the
“proper use”
of medicines – reminding people that they should avoid taking them without a prescription – will also be amplified.