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EU prepares drug plan.

EU prepares drug plan.

 A surge in winter sickness in the northern hemisphere and reduced exports from China have meant patients have found it difficult to get hold of some basic medicines, such as penicillin and paracetamol. Almost all 27 EU member states and the UK have reported shortages. Under pressure from governments, the commission said it would intervene to ensure «strategic autonomy» in basic medicines through a «systemic industrial policy». It would soon propose legislation to «secure access to medicines for all patients in need and to avoid any market disruption of medicines».

The reform would require «stronger obligations for supply, earlier notification of shortages and withdrawals, and enhanced transparency of stocks», the commission said. The commission said the shortages were not a temporary problem but «a systemic challenge with numerous vulnerabilities», including overreliance on a few countries for certain products, and the way drugs are regulated and bought. «Discussions with industry have already taken place and they are aware that they must rapidly step up production of these medicines,» she said. Industry trade groups said the main cause was a surge in demand because of a high rate of respiratory conditions and infections, especially among children.

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  1. Joseph13 January 2023 at 12:20

    Until they propose their legislation we will be in summer :) The EU and other entities need to move a lot faster than this.

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    Replies
    1. Audrey13 January 2023 at 17:02

      They are doing their best (well, some of them are at least) so let's see how much this takes them. But yes, they should have already had a plan in place for this.

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