Persisting Medicine Scarcities Persist in the European Union
EU Braces for Critical Shortages of Essential Medicines, Court of Auditors Warns
The European Union (EU) and its member states, along with the European Parliament, are set to adopt legislative proposals introduced by the EU Commission to combat the growing issue of shortages of essential medicines. This move comes in response to a report by the European Court of Auditors, which highlighted the risk of these shortages and the EU's dependence on Asia for many vital medications.
According to the report, between January 2022 and October 2024, EU countries registered critical shortages of 136 medicines. The situation worsened in 2023 and 2024, with the number of drug shortages reaching a record high. The Court of Auditors identified vulnerabilities in supply chains as one of the main causes of these shortages.
The report also revealed that the EU is partially dependent on Asia for essential medicines, with the EU being fully dependent on Asian countries as the main suppliers of common painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen. However, the specific countries in Asia were not explicitly named in the information provided.
The Court of Auditors also warned that there is a risk that certain medicines, including common antibiotics, may not be available. Klaus-Heiner Lehne, a member of the Court of Auditors, demanded an effective solution to address critical shortages of essential medicines in the EU.
The EU Commission, responsible for legislative proposals related to addressing shortages of essential medicines, acknowledged the Court of Auditors' demand for a stronger EU framework to combat these shortages. The Commission's proposals aim to provide a stronger EU framework to address the persisting risk of shortages of essential medicines in the EU.
Some commonly used drugs in the EU show significant dependencies, with the EU's internal market for medicines being fragmented and free trade being restricted, according to the Court of Auditors. The EU Commission hopes that the legislative proposals already introduced to combat shortages will soon be adopted by EU countries and the European Parliament.
In conclusion, the European Court of Auditors' report has raised serious concerns about the risk of shortages of essential medicines in the EU, including common antibiotics. The EU Commission's legislative proposals aim to address these concerns and provide a stronger EU framework to ensure the availability of these vital medications. The EU and its member states are expected to adopt these proposals to ensure the continued health and well-being of their citizens.
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