Amoxicillin, the most prescribed antibiotic for children, is affected by stock-outs. Joly Victor/Joly Victor/ABACA
INVESTIGATION – As the problem worsens, with a record 3,500 molecules out of stock last year, the government is finally considering acting on the origins of the problem.
This is an unprecedented phenomenon in French pharmacies. Never have so many drugs been missed. There are countless parents traumatized from leaving their pharmacy empty-handed, unable to find amoxicillin, the most prescribed antibiotic for children, or paracetamol. The milestone of 3,500 molecules out of stock or at risk of rupture was crossed last year, according to the National Medicines Safety Agency, against 2,160 in 2021.
The phenomenon peaked between summer and last fall with the conjunction of three epidemics, influenza, Covid and bronchiolitis. In mid-August, 12.5% of drug references were out of supply, against 6.5% in January, according to GIE Gers, a data processing group created by drug companies. In recent days, tensions have arisen over Prednisone (cortisone) tablets. The supply of amoxicillin remains complicated. But the arrival of spring…
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