EU Faces Drug Supply Crisis
The European Commission has acknowledged vulnerabilities in the supply chains of essential medicines, such as antibiotics and painkillers, due to extensive outsourcing to Asia. This revelation comes amidst concerns about the timely reporting of shortages and the lack of a mechanism to influence industry efforts during a critical shortage.
The EU's internal market for medicines is fragmented, hindering their free movement and accessibility. This fragmentation results in unequal access to critical medicines across the continent. Most medicines are approved nationally, and even those approved for the entire EU are not marketed in all countries.
In an attempt to address these issues, the European Commission proposed improvements in 2025 to the system for preventing and limiting critical medicine shortages in the EU internal market. The proposal included the adoption of the first EU list of critical medicines, a significant step towards ensuring their availability. However, the adoption of this list has not yet ensured their consistent supply.
Another challenge lies in the variation of medicine packaging from country to country, which can complicate cross-border trade. The industry's legal obligation to ensure continuous medicine supply is not being met satisfactorily, with some critical shortages of these essential medicines already reported.
In an effort to improve the system, the Commission has proposed changes to EU legislation. If adopted, these changes could significantly improve the system, but may not solve all problems. Some EU countries have started building up stocks of medicines to address shortages, which could potentially worsen shortages in other EU countries due to lack of coordination.
Despite these challenges, the European Commission continues to work towards a more efficient and equitable system for the supply of critical medicines across the EU. The ultimate goal is to ensure that all EU citizens have equal and timely access to the medicines they need.
