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The government made this announcement on Friday February 3: in the face of the current shortages of certain drugs, it will authorize price increases for generic drugs to promote their production. Other measures will also be put in place to prevent this situation from happening again.
This has been going on for several months: several molecules such as amoxicillin or paracetamol are experiencing a shortage in France. While the health authorities believe that the situation should continue, the government is therefore trying to regain control by making several announcements.
Authorize an increase in the prices of certain generics
With a view to promoting their production, the government has announced that it will authorize an increase in the prices of certain generic drugs. In a joint statement, the Ministries of Health and Industry and their respective ministers François Braun and Roland Lescure, will therefore operate price increases “in return for industrial commitments on securing the supply of the French market“.
A measure demanded for a few weeks by the manufacturers of generic drugs, who consider the prices too low in France to allow them to continue to sell in France and even to maintain their production.
Prepare a list of strategic drugs
The government’s other track concerns the establishment of a list of strategic drugs. In addition, the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) will be in charge of a plan to prepare for winter epidemics, with securing stocks and improving the availability of data concerning medicines for “anticipate possible tensions” And “coping with seasonal spikes in drug consumption“.
Finally, the government is planning a “white drug plan” by next May, which can be activated in the event of an exceptional situation.
A return to normal in two weeks
“We will come back in the next two weeks to an additional month of amoxicillin stock” explains François Braun at the microphone of our colleagues from Europe 1. The Minister of Health confirms the forthcoming delivery to pharmacies of one million bottles of this antibiotic, deliveries which, according to him, will be possible thanks to “work done by manufacturers, who have activated the entire production chain”.
“We have recovered stocks of paracetamol, so we will be out of this period of crisis in the next two weeks” he believes. Finally, the press release specifies, the measures announced will remain “in force until the situation improves in a lasting way”.