Medicine shortages are hitting hospitals across Europe, according to a new report published by the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) on Monday (17 November).
Over 86 per cent of hospital pharmacists reported experiencing difficulties in sourcing medicines in the European Union. The EAHP said that the consequences for patients included a general deterioration in their conditions, delayed or interrupted chemotherapy treatment and unnecessary experience of side effects.
Up to 75 per cent of 600 hospital pharmacists who were surveyed either agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, “medicines shortages in my hospital are having a negative impact on patient care”. Meanwhile, 66 per cent said they experienced medicines shortages as a daily or weekly problem.
The most affected areas are medicines to fight infection, cancer drugs and anaesthetics.
Speaking at the launch of the report, Roberto Frontini, the EAHP's president, said, “Two things always shock me about the medicines shortages problem in Europe: its scale, and the known impacts it is having on patient safety and welfare.”
“For too long this problem has been brushed under the carpet. It is time for those with responsibility for protecting European citizens from cross-border health threats to address the issue," Frontini said.
Better monitoring
Those surveyed said that to improve the situation, drug manufacturers should give hospitals better information on likely supply disruptions.
"We think there should be better coordination. There should be a system which evaluates how much of a product is available and a delivery chain so that patients' needs are served," said François Houÿez, a policy adviser with Rare Diseases Europe. He also called for broader calculations on what it is costing societies to have medicines shortages.
The report suggests the EU should develop an improved system to record shortfalls. The European Medicines Agency assembling a database of medicines in shortage across Europe, replicating something the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US does, is one recommendation.
The EAHP surveyed pharmacists in over 600 hospitals in 36 European countries.
Full report here.
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