In France, the drug shortage crisis continues and is even getting worse. Some 5,000 were reported to be in tension or rupture in 2023, according to a report from the Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) published at the end of the week.
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In total, theANSM 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.
If ” all classes of drugs are concerned”, underlines the Agency, “cardiovascular drugs, nervous system drugs, anti-infectives and anti-cancer drugs are more particularly represented “.
Stress for families and patients
Serious pathologies therefore. Christophe Lucas, president of Epilepsie France, shows concern at the microphone of Clément Viron of the RFI Science department and highlights the concern of families and patients.
“ Tensions over epilepsy medications have been recurring for ten years, but we are seeing that they are becoming more and more numerous and more and more recurrent. That is to say that, every two months, we have a burst of drugs which are in tension or broken. This worries us, because families are under stress.
Already, the illness is stressful for parents, but now, it is even more stressful, both day and night. I invite all people to imagine that they have basic treatment for a chronic illness which can impact daily life – that is to say, it can endanger their life – to say to themselves ‘I can’t take the medicine that could save me from being in danger’. We can have five or six requests per day for information in the region, or in Paris, but for concerns about access to treatment and with people who have total anxiety. »
The problem has been recurring for several years and affects many countries. And 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 against a backdrop of aging populations.
Also listenThe shortage of medicines in France
In April 2022, the sale of certain medications individually has been authorized to fight against waste and shortages, but the practice comes up against reluctance from manufacturers and pharmaceutical pharmacies.
All players in the sector committed to a charter of best practices in the fall of 2023 to share their data on the availability of medicines, under the aegis of the ANSM.
Also listenSell individually to curb the drug shortage
Better for amoxicillin
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 “.
Actors in the drug chain (industrialists, depositaries, wholesalers-distributors, community and hospital pharmacists) are nevertheless called upon to continue their efforts and “anticipate supplies now to guarantee coverage of needs at the end of this winter » season.
For other antibiotics, “such as azithromycin and pediatric cefpodoxime”, the situation has, however, become more fragile and manufacturers have also been asked to release their stocks, adds the ANSM.
(with AFP)