Persisting Medication Scarcities Remain Elevated Across EU Countries
The European Union (EU) is taking decisive action to address its heavy reliance on Asia for the supply of common painkillers and antibiotics, following a report by the European Court of Auditors that highlights the risk of essential medicines not being available for some time.
According to the report, the EU is completely dependent on Asia for common painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen. This dependence is a significant concern, as the shortages of essential medicines in the EU reached record levels in 2023 and 2024, with EU states reporting critical shortages of 136 essential medicines between January 2022 and October 2024.
The European Court of Auditors identifies weaknesses in supply chains as a significant cause of these shortages. Asia is particularly dependent on pharmaceutical active ingredients (APIs), with countries like China and India being the main suppliers for many critical drugs globally.
In response, the EU Commission has introduced legislative proposals aimed at ensuring the availability of essential medicines. The proposals are intended to mitigate the risk of certain drugs, including common antibiotics, not being available for some time, and to combat essential medicine shortages in the EU.
Klaus-Heiner Lehne from the Court of Auditors demands an effective solution to address critical shortages of essential medicines in the EU. The EU Commission acknowledges the demand from the Court of Auditors for a stronger EU framework to address essential medicine shortages.
The EU Commission hopes that the legislative proposals will be adopted by EU states and the European Parliament. The Commission's proposals are aimed at taking effect and addressing the critical shortages of 136 essential medicines reported by EU countries between January 2022 and October 2024.
The EU's internal market for medicines is fragmented and free trade is restricted, according to the report. The Commission's proposals aim to address these issues, ensuring a more resilient and secure supply of essential medicines in the EU.
The European Court of Auditors emphasized the need for the EU to find a solution to ensure the availability of essential medicines. The Court published a report stating that patients in the EU can still expect shortages of essential medicines, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
The EU Commission has already introduced legislative proposals to combat essential medicine shortages. The Commission hopes that these proposals will provide a much-needed solution to ensure the availability of essential medicines for EU citizens.
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