The disinfectant chlorhexidine is used in operations but is listed as remaining until November. The Swedish Medicines Agency has granted exemption for a similar agent that is approved in Norway. But several of the regions that responded to Nyheternas’ survey are still worried that operations will be cancelled.
– We probably have to get used to the fact that even such banal products as chlorhexidine run out, and they are needed to be able to operate, says Jörn Schneede at the pharmaceutical center at Norrland University Hospital.
The shortage a big problem
All but one region that responded to the survey say that the drug shortage is a major problem. According to the regions, seeking compensation leads to extra work for everyone in the care chain, suppliers, pharmacists, doctors and patients. The regions also list deficiencies that can lead to side effects and problems for patients, including pain relief, heart medications, insulin, antibiotics and epilepsy drugs.
And if there are no clot-dissolving agents, which must be inserted quickly in the event of a heart attack, in the ambulance, it can mean great danger for the patient.
– There has been a shortage of this drug for a long time and if it cannot be used, the heart attack risks becoming larger and perhaps even incurable, says Jörn Schneed at the Medical Center in Umeå.
License medicines more expensive
The problem of residual drugs has existed since the pandemic, but many regions believe that the problem has grown. The latest figure from the Swedish Medicines Agency is that roughly 6% of the medicines are now missing, often these are medicines that large groups of patients need. If the doctors instead prescribe so-called licensed medicines, it will be more expensive for the healthcare system.
– When a medicine runs out, we have to look for a substitute. If there is none, you can insert a so-called licensed medicine that has not yet been approved on the Swedish market, which is almost always more expensive, says Frida Salvén, sales and assortment manager at Apoex, which supplies medicines to the healthcare system in Norrland.
The war a cause
The shortage of medicines is due, among other things, to global crises such as the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, which make it harder to get hold of raw materials, but also transport and logistics work worse in a crisis.
Several authorities have recently been commissioned by the government to investigate whether larger stocks are needed in Sweden, whether it is possible to start more production in Europe and whether prices should be raised, something that has become relevant now that the Swedish krone exchange rate is low, and the pharmaceutical companies would welcome it.
– The companies have to take a lot into account, including a constantly changing demand and their own profitability. If the so-called ceiling prices were to be raised, the companies would get paid more for the older medicines which are very cheap and which many need, increased prices would make the companies more interested in entering the Swedish market, says Bengt Mattson, expert at the branch organization The pharmaceutical industry companies.