FLASH
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From antibiotics to cardiovascular and respiratory drugs to diabetes and some cancer drugs: shortages of some drugs continue in many European countries, including Italy. The alarm is renewed by the European Pharmacists (PGEU) who describe a worsening situation for 2023.
In 15% of European countries between 500 and 600 missing medicines are reported and in 27% more than 600. Italy is no exception with around 300 medicines for which shortages are reported. Among the causes are the difficulties in obtaining raw materials (coming from China and India), the post-Covid boom in demand and also the very low prices of some drugs that make them no longer attractive to companies (this is especially true for antibiotics).
European pharmacists raise the shortage alarm
A report conducted by the Association of European Pharmacists (Pgeu-Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union) confirms that in 2023 pharmacists in all European countries faced a shortage of drugs and in 65% of countries the situation has worsened compared to last year. "This situation causes frustration and concern for patients and undermines their trust in pharmacists and the healthcare system," explains PGEU president Aris Prins.
According to the report, in many countries the degree of shortages is significant: in 15% of European countries between 500 and 600 missing medicines are reported and in 27% more than 600. Italy is no exception. "The list updated every week on the AIFA website shows that the lack of therapies is nothing new and that it is no longer due to the pandemic", declares Ilenia Malavasi, deputy of the Democratic Party and member of the Social Affairs Committee.
"Among the substitutions and changes, there are about 300 real drug shortages, 30 of which are the most critical: the therapeutic areas in which problems have appeared at the hospital level in recent months are related to antibiotics, some anti-tumor drugs, antidiabetics. some medications that act on the central nervous system", adds Malavasi, who asked a question at the Ministry of Health.
The WHO also raises the alarm about the shortage
The world's pharmaceutical market has grown by about a third in the past 10 years, allowing a larger portion of the world's population to enjoy the benefits of therapies. However, at the same time, there have been increasing cases in which market mechanisms fail, causing drug shortages.
In particular, "since September 2021, the number of molecules reported as missing in two or more countries has increased by 101%", reports the World Health Organization. The increase in drug shortages risks leaving patients without treatment or forcing them to use alternative purchasing channels: "These drug shortages are a known driver of falsified or substandard drugs and pose a risk of many people seeking to obtain medication through unofficial means such as like the Internet", WHO warns. The phenomenon mainly concerns low- and middle-income countries. However, even Europe, as evidenced by the pharmacists' complaint, is not exempt from it.
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