Pharmacists warn that pharmacies are running out of antibiotics, especially in pediatric doses, and neurological or diabetic drugs. Health Minister Adam Niedzielski assures that “the shortages of medicines in pharmacies are local, on a national scale we have stocks for several months”.
READ ALSO: The flu hits. MZ spokesperson: We are at the top of the flu epicenter. There is no risk of running out of essential medicines
READ ALSO: Shortage of medicines in the Czech Republic. There is a lack of painkillers and basic antibiotics. Czechs buy them in Poland
Problem with medicines
Pharmacists and patients have been struggling for several months with the lack of availability of medicines. Like dr. Mikołaj Konstanty, president of the Silesian Chamber of Pharmacists, noted in an interview with PAP, this is due to several factors, including problem of drug distribution, logistics or supply and demand, which increased during the pandemic. There is, but it is a marginal problem of illegal drug exports abroad.
There is actually no EU country that is not currently complaining about a problem with medicines. However, the situation is exacerbated by the increase in infections when it comes to the common cold
– said the president of the Silesian Chamber of Pharmacists.
He found that the greatest shortage is currently in antipyretics and painkillers.
We also lack antibiotics, especially in pediatric doses, neurological drugs or drugs for diabetes
Constantine explained.
He added that there is also a high demand for diagnostic tests, which are related to the incidence rate of influenza A, B and Covid or RSV.
Medicines are scarce and the number of patients in pharmacies has increased enormously
– explains the President of the Silesian Chamber of Pharmacists.
He recalls that recently there was also a problem with the availability of morphine or drugs related to cancer.
We don’t have much influence on that, because the production of drugs was moved to Asia many years ago and this limits availability. However, our market is a big one and it’s the manufacturers who decide where these drugs go. We inform the Ministry of Health about everything, and it takes certain steps, and the European Medicines Agency has also presented its recommendations for countries regarding the transparency of logistics and information processes
said Constantine.
As he noted, there is a problem with the flow of information about drug availability.
We are in contact with the minister as pharmacists who deal with the retail market i.e. public and hospital pharmacies. We also request that this information be available at the patient-physician and patient-pharmacist level. A situation where a patient comes to the pharmacy, has a prescription drug, and there is no drug, because it causes a very big problem. We have asked the Ministry many times to prepare a solution whereby the doctor who issues a prescription for a particular drug will be informed whether the drug is limited or not available at all
Konstantin noticed.
He added that it is also very important for pharmacists to know the context of the drug shortage and to be aware of it in advance.
Producers, intermediaries or wholesalers are obliged to inform the ministry about planned shortages, because they are aware of these shortages
– pointed to the President of the Silesian Chamber of Pharmacists.
He emphasized that these shortages are often the result of problems with the availability of the active substance of the medicine itself, or production and logistical problems.
If a patient comes to the pharmacy who suffers from an illness, has been treated for it for a long time and needs a medicine, and the pharmacy does not have it, it is important whether this medicine is available within two weeks, because, for example, a container is customs are waiting to be unloaded, or there are no medicines for half a year because there is a malfunction in some factory. In such a situation, the patient should urgently see a specialist to adjust his therapy
Konstantin explains.
The Minister of Health calms down
Health Minister Adam Niedzielski, who was recently asked by TVN24 about shortages of certain medicines in pharmacies, said we had almost 300,000 in the last week before Christmas. flu infections. Therefore, he explained, there is definitely more demand for drugs than in previous years.
When we look at the number of cases, it is not only higher than a year or two ago when there were times of the pandemic, but also higher than in 2019.
he said.
We are constantly monitoring the situation (…). We look at what causes the possible local shortages. Nationally, stocks are several months ahead in terms of safety, but there are local shortages related to the distribution chain. Pharmacies have concluded contracts with specific wholesalers
– he said.
He assured that the Ministry of Health was negotiating with drug manufacturers.
I have asked the Chief Pharmaceutical Inspectorate to verify supply chains in case of local signals
– added.
The drugs (…) were largely manufactured in China. This is a bit of redefinition as the market is constantly changing dynamically
he said. He also paid attention to the transport of drugs.
A large part of the drugs flowed via Odessa, from faraway Asia, to Europe. These are the things that obviously change what’s going on
– he said.
Niedzielski pointed out that “we also have the problem of exhausted substitutes.”
We have set up a collaboration with the Medical Chamber and other local government agencies to show which medicines do not necessarily have to be prescribed, so we have a constant exchange of information with the environment
– added.
drug mafia
One of the reasons for the lack of medicines in pharmacies is also the illegal export from Poland by the so-called drug mafia. Konrad Madejczyk, spokesperson for the Supreme Pharmaceutical Council, noted that the problem of drug shortages in pharmacies related to this problem emerged in 2012.
We have one of the lowest drug prices in Europe. This opened the door for dishonest entrepreneurs who found a way to increase their profits. They illegally exported drugs abroad and sold them much more expensively than in Poland
Madejek explained.
He stressed that the problem has been known for years, that the pharmaceutical market is currently tightly controlled and that illegal exports are now incidental.
More recently, however, there have been more arrests related to the so-called drug mafia. In early December, the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau announced that it had arrested three people in an investigation into illegal drug trafficking. Allegations have already been heard by 11 people of a group allegedly buying drugs illegally for PLN 7.5 million and then exporting them abroad. Arrests were made in four counties: Pomorskie, Mazowieckie, Łódzkie and Małopolskie.
The National Public Prosecutor’s Office is already working on a case against three pharmaceutical wholesalers and a dozen pharmacies, in which 28 people have been charged – this is a follow-up to this investigation.
The Chief Pharmaceutical Inspector told PAP that the State Pharmaceutical Inspectorate is in constant contact with the National Prosecutor’s Office, the Chief Commander of the Police and the National Tax Administration in the field of countering irregularities related to the manufacture, import and trade of medicinal products and active substances .
From the turn of the year of 2018 and 2019 to December 9, the GIF imposed fines for violation of regulations related to the export or sale of drugs abroad for a total amount of PLN 677,574,898.27
– reported the main pharmaceutical inspection.
In order to prevent e.g. illegal export of medicines abroad, the Ministry of Health also publishes from time to time the so-called the anti-export list, which lists medicines, certain food products and medical devices that can become a scarce commodity, which is why its they are subject to special rules and may not be exported abroad.
The last list includes insulin – eg Abasaglar, Actrapid Penfill, Apidra, Fiasp, Gensulin M30 (30/70), Gensulin M40 (40/60), Gensulin M50 (50/50), Gensulin N, Gensulin R, Humalog, Humalog Mix 25, Humalog Mix 50, Humulin N, Humulin R, Insulatard Penfill, Insuman Basal, Liprolog, Mixtard 30 Penfill, Mixtard 40 Penfill, Mixtard 50 Penfill, NovoRapid Penfill, Polhumin N and Polhumin R.
The list also includes, for example, substances that are used in children in the elimination diet for milk replacers, eg Nutramigen.
The list also includes the anticoagulant Clexane, Berodual nebulizer solution, Trimbow and Symbicort inhalation sprays and Ozempic for the treatment of diabetes.
olk/PAP
Source: wPolityce