Το μεταφράζω από τα Σουηδικά στα Αγγλικά μέσω του translate google.06 December 2019, Läkartidningen ( The weekly Journal of the Swedish Medical Association).
Author: Johan Wallér, CEO, Swedish Pharmacy AssociationFocus on the real causes of the drug shortageThe growing problem of drug shortages is affecting healthcare and pharmacies, and not least the patients. Great frustration lies with the pharmacy staff who work every day to solve problems that arise when medicines run out. The debate has so far gone like the cat around hot porridge. It is time to focus your eyes and requirements on the pharmaceutical companies.
The number of residual listings has increased avalanche. The Swedish Medicines Agency estimates that up to 1,000 medicines have been missing in 2019. Despite the fact that pharmacies and healthcare professionals are struggling every day to find alternatives in the form of equivalent products, other strengths or medicines from other countries, the basic problem remains: it is manufactured for too little medicine.
In Sweden, the issue of listed drugs has become a political priority. But the debate has not been about how the basic problem can be solved.
Society needs to place greater demands on pharmaceutical companies. Above all, the industry must ensure adequate access to the medicines sold in Sweden and provide a buffer level to reduce disruptions when they cannot deliver.
It is the pharmaceutical companies that control how much drugs are manufactured for the Swedish market and who decide on the distribution of medicines. The basic problem is that production is too low and that we have a distribution chain outside Sweden's borders that is too sensitive to disruptions.
Pharmaceuticals must be available where they are needed, and therefore pharmacies need to be able to hold relevant stocks. In case of deficiency, medicines need to be available for those patients who are most in need. If the drugs that are then left are scattered in pharmacies' stores around the country, this results in even bigger problems. According to law, the pharmacies are not allowed to send drugs between each other.
In the debate we often hear that patients are sent between different pharmacies in search of medicines. Of course it should not be. For several years now, all pharmacies, prescribers and patients have the opportunity to view stock status at pharmacies via Fass. In February, Fass develops so that it becomes clear if a drug is residual listed. We are very positive about this, but it will not be enough. Healthcare and pharmacies must already communicate better for the sake of patients.
The Swedish Medicines Agency has become better at finding out facts and communicating this in good time. For example, we have been told that a drug that is mainly used for children will soon be listed. The pharmacy will not be able to order the drug until six months. At all pharmacies, a total of 4,300 packages are currently available. This stock lasts up to two months and thus will not suffice. Thanks to the Swedish Medicines Agency's timely announcement, we hope that healthcare will be able to prepare alternative treatments before the pharmacy's warehouse ends. The goal is that no patient should have to come to the pharmacy with a prescription that cannot be dispensed.
Dialogue between the pharmacies and the prescribers, however, cannot solve the basic problem that medicines end at the drug companies.
This is an international problem. In several other countries, voices are being raised to make society more responsible for the supply of medicines. It is proposed everything from state pharmaceutical factories to trade restrictions. The issue needs to be resolved at European level, with common demands on the pharmaceutical industry. We must not end up in a situation where individual countries bunk important medicines or impose restrictions on patients in other countries.
It is clear that the industry has partially failed in its mission to reliably deliver medicines to the population. When medicines suddenly cannot be obtained, neither the healthcare, pharmacies, authorities nor other actors can help patients.
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Θέμα: Ελλείψεις φαρμάκων στην αγορά. (Αναγνώστηκε 488402 φορές)
29 Νοεμβρίου 2011, 22:59:50