Pharmacists report ongoing shortages of medicines in pharmacies, with pediatric antibiotics, pain relievers, and neurological or diabetes medications among the most affected. Health Minister Adam Niedzielski reassures that shortages are local and that national reserves remain robust, with stocks secured for several months.
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Root causes of medicine shortages
Pharmacists and patients have faced limited access to medicines for several months. As explained by Dr. Mikołaj Konstanty, president of the Silesian Chamber of Pharmacists, the shortage results from multiple factors including distribution logistics, supply and demand dynamics, and pandemic-related disruptions. He notes that illegal exports remain a marginal factor but do contribute to the problem.
Across the European Union, reports of medicine shortages are widespread. The current strain is worsened by rising infections of influenza and other respiratory illnesses, which increases demand for common medicines.
– remarked the president of the Silesian Chamber of Pharmacists.
Konstanty pointed to antipyretics and analgesics as the most scarce categories, with antibiotics, particularly pediatric formulations, neurological drugs, and diabetes medications also in short supply.
He added that there is heightened demand for diagnostic tests tied to influenza A and B, COVID-19, and RSV, reflecting the overall surge in respiratory illnesses.
Medicines remain scarce while patient volume in pharmacies continues to rise, according to Konstanty.
He recalled recent challenges with morphine and certain oncology-related drugs, noting limited influence on production shifts that moved manufacturing to Asia years ago. The market remains large, and producers determine distribution across regions. The Ministry of Health is kept informed, and the European Medicines Agency has issued guidance to improve transparency in logistics and information flows.
Konstanty emphasized the need for clearer information about medicine availability so pharmacists, doctors, and patients can plan accordingly. Retail and hospital pharmacists maintain contact with the ministry and request that information be accessible at both the patient and physician levels. A scenario in which a patient arrives with a prescription that cannot be filled due to stockouts represents a serious disruption to care. Pharmacists have urged the ministry to establish a system that notifies doctors when a prescribed drug is limited or unavailable.
He also highlighted the importance of advance awareness of shortages so pharmacists can prepare and advise patients appropriately.
Producers, intermediaries, and wholesalers are urged to inform the ministry about planned shortages, given their visibility into the supply chain.
Konstanty noted that shortages often stem from difficulties accessing the active pharmaceutical ingredients, manufacturing problems, or logistical bottlenecks. If a patient needs a long-standing medication and a pharmacy cannot supply it, the physician should reassess therapy promptly, especially when a fulfillment window spans only a couple of weeks due to customs delays or factory outages.
– explained Konstanty.
The health minister’s assessment
Health Minister Adam Niedzielski recently discussed shortages with TV outlets, noting a spike in demand as pharmacies logged nearly 300,000 flu infections in the week before the Christmas period. He underscored that this year’s demand surpasses both pandemic years and pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
He described ongoing monitoring of the situation, recognizing that local shortages are tied to distribution networks rather than national stock levels. National stocks remain several months ahead for safety, though regional gaps exist where distribution contracts and supplier relationships diverge.
He stated that the ministry continues negotiations with manufacturers and has tasked the Chief Pharmaceutical Inspectorate with verifying supply chains for any local signals.
Niedzielski noted that many medicines and raw materials have roots in Asia, including China, with evolving market dynamics shaping availability. A substantial portion of drug movement travels through routes via Eastern Europe and beyond, reflecting broader shifts in global logistics.
He also mentioned the ongoing issue of exhausted substitutes and announced a collaboration with medical and local government bodies to identify medicines that do not necessarily require prescriptions, enabling better information sharing across the healthcare ecosystem.
– added.
Addressing illegal trade in medicines
One of the contributing factors behind pharmacy shortages is illegal export activity, sometimes described as a drug mafia. Konrad Madejczyk, spokesperson for the Supreme Pharmaceutical Council, explained that Poland has among the lowest drug prices in Europe, a factor that has historically attracted some unscrupulous exporters who move medicines out of the country for higher profit overseas.
He stressed that the issue existed for years, and while enforcement has tightened, illegal exports have not disappeared entirely. Recent arrests in a broader anti-smuggling initiative reflect ongoing efforts to curb illicit drug trafficking. Investigations involve multiple jurisdictions and entities, including prosecutors and law enforcement agencies, with coordinated actions across several regions.
The Chief Pharmaceutical Inspectorate maintains ongoing collaboration with the National Prosecutor’s Office, police leadership, and tax authorities to counter irregularities in drug manufacture, import, and trade. Between 2018 and 2019, fines related to export and sale violations amounted to substantial sums, underscoring the regulatory focus on this issue.
To prevent exports during shortages, the health ministry periodically publishes an anti-export list detailing medicines, certain foods, and medical devices that are subject to export restrictions. The latest list includes insulin products, certain anticoagulants, inhalers, and other essential items used across pediatric and adult care.
Additionally, some items used in pediatric dietary management and other essential therapies are listed to safeguard access at home and in clinical settings.
As the situation evolves, the health system continues to adjust policy tools and coordinate with industry partners to minimize disruption and keep patient care uninterrupted. (attribution: wPolityce)