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Proposal for a new Hub Community on “Medicine Supply Security”
Medicine supply security will be an EU priority for the period 2024-2029.
Why is this the case and why is it a good idea?
In Germany and Europe, there are currently more than 500 supply bottlenecks for medicines, many of which concern paediatric medicines and antibiotics.
However, this is not only due to a lack of finished medicinal products, but also a lack of active ingredients, which are often only produced in China and India, excipients that are added to the active ingredients (e.g. to produce tablets), capsules, glass ampoules, packaging material, etc., etc..
The reasons for this are mainly quality and production problems, but also ships stuck in the Suez Canal, armed conflicts, sanctions, as well as market failures. Medicines shortages, for example, are more pronounced in some European countries than in others.
Emer Cooke, Executive Director of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), said at a PGEU and CPME conference in Amsterdam on 11 June 2024: "Everyone is looking to us to solve the medicines shortages, but we can't do it, at least not alone!".
The shortage of medicines is not just a European problem, but a global problem. Roughly speaking, the lower the economic power and the health budget, the greater the problem with medicines shortages. But even here there are exceptions, because the whole problem is quite complicated.
Medicines shortages not only jeopardise the safety of the drug supply but are also a problem for national security. Antibiotics and other medicines are strategic and security-relevant goods in the event of a crisis.
It is therefore definitely worthwhile discussing the problem of the security of medicines supply within the framework of the Global Health Hub Germany. In principle, the request for participation in the Hub Community is aimed at all interested stakeholder groups, but it would be desirable for participants to come from at least the following stakeholder groups: Politics, Business, International organisations, Science / Think Tanks.
What are your general thoughts about a new Community on Medicine Supply Security?
Why is this the case and why is it a good idea?
In Germany and Europe, there are currently more than 500 supply bottlenecks for medicines, many of which concern paediatric medicines and antibiotics.
However, this is not only due to a lack of finished medicinal products, but also a lack of active ingredients, which are often only produced in China and India, excipients that are added to the active ingredients (e.g. to produce tablets), capsules, glass ampoules, packaging material, etc., etc..
The reasons for this are mainly quality and production problems, but also ships stuck in the Suez Canal, armed conflicts, sanctions, as well as market failures. Medicines shortages, for example, are more pronounced in some European countries than in others.
Emer Cooke, Executive Director of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), said at a PGEU and CPME conference in Amsterdam on 11 June 2024: "Everyone is looking to us to solve the medicines shortages, but we can't do it, at least not alone!".
The shortage of medicines is not just a European problem, but a global problem. Roughly speaking, the lower the economic power and the health budget, the greater the problem with medicines shortages. But even here there are exceptions, because the whole problem is quite complicated.
Medicines shortages not only jeopardise the safety of the drug supply but are also a problem for national security. Antibiotics and other medicines are strategic and security-relevant goods in the event of a crisis.
It is therefore definitely worthwhile discussing the problem of the security of medicines supply within the framework of the Global Health Hub Germany. In principle, the request for participation in the Hub Community is aimed at all interested stakeholder groups, but it would be desirable for participants to come from at least the following stakeholder groups: Politics, Business, International organisations, Science / Think Tanks.
What are your general thoughts about a new Community on Medicine Supply Security?
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| Contact | Dr. med. Jens Gobrecht MPH, MBA Director of the European Representation and International Affairs ABDA – Federal Union of German Associations of Pharmacists e.V. Kortenberglaan 116 • B-1000 Brussels • Belgium Email: europa@abda.de | |