The difficulties in supplying medicines have worsened further in 2023 in France, approaching 5,000 reports of stock shortages and risks of shortages, according to a report from the Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) (AFP/Archives/Christophe ARCHAMBAULT)
The difficulties in supplying medicines have further worsened in 2023 in France: nearly 5,000 reports of stock shortages and risks of shortages have been recorded by the ANSM, which is counting on the new charter adopted in the fall to better manage the situation.
In total, the National Medicines Safety Agency recorded 4,925 declarations last year, compared to 3,761 in 2022, an increase of 30.9%. These reports more than doubled (+128%) compared to the 2,160 reports received in 2021.
This progression is explained in particular “by the wish of the authorities to have declarations as soon as possible”, before the ruptures occur, indicates to AFP the general director of the ANSM, Christelle Ratignier-Carbonneil.
The same medicine may be the subject of several reports by those involved in the distribution of products during the same year, the Agency also specifies.
For 40% of declarations, it was necessary to put in place measures to cover the needs of patients: import similar medicines, place quotas on certain medicines, etc.
The Agency, which has seen its health police powers strengthened in the last two years, sanctioned in 2023 “around ten laboratories to the tune of 500,000 euros” for “too late declarations” on the risks of tensions, non-compliance with plans for managing shortages and safety stocks, explains Ms. Ratignier-Carbonneil.
These financial sanctions are published on the organization’s website for one month.
– Better for amoxicillin –
The problem of availability of medicines has been recurring for several years and affects many countries.
Its causes are multiple: “Difficulties occurring during the manufacturing of raw materials or finished products, quality defects on medicines, insufficient production capacity, fragmentation of manufacturing stages, etc.,” lists the ANSM.
Added to this is the increasing need for medicines due to aging populations.
If “all classes of drugs are concerned” by these declarations, underlines the Agency, “cardiovascular drugs, nervous system drugs, anti-infectives and anti-cancer drugs are more particularly represented”.
Concerning the most common antibiotic, amoxicillin, the ANSM has noted “for several weeks, a progressive improvement in the supply” of pharmacies and wholesale distributors “across the entire territory, in particular for pediatric presentations “.
The director of the ANSM sees “beneficial effects of the charter of commitment” by which the pharmaceutical players (industrialists, depositaries, wholesalers-distributors, community and hospital pharmacists) have promised this fall to better organize themselves to combat shortages.
– Question of “trust” –
Regular exchanges take place under the aegis of the Agency with all the stakeholders who share their data to have “better reporting of difficulties” and adapt the responses to be provided, she explains.
“All the measures are scrutinized,” says the director. Managing shortages is a matter of “trust”, she says: “industrialists must not fear overstocks at the level of wholesalers and pharmacists”, and that in turn, pharmacists must not spend ” orders that are too large for fear of not being restocked,” she explains.
The “extremely close monitoring” to which amoxicillin is subject has also been extended to two other molecules – azithromycin and pediatric cefpodoxime – for which manufacturers have also been asked to release their stocks, added Ms. Ratignier -Carbonneil.
Their use “is much more important due to the increase in mycoplasma infections since the end of last year,” explains the manager.
As part of its winter plan aimed at anticipating drug shortages, the Agency also monitors other specialties such as paracetamol and corticosteroids.
For medicines of major therapeutic interest (MITM), for which shortage situations are the most detrimental in terms of public health, manufacturers are required to alert any stock shortage or risk of shortage on an online declaration platform (Trustmed ).
© 2024 AFP
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