Medicines out-of-stock have more than doubled in just 12 months – a 107% increase.
Download the White Paper here:
Azure Medicines Shortage White paper
Two thirds of the entire population have been impacted by medicine shortages. Almost half of patients have experienced shortages for prescription medicines at a pharmacy.
In response to the crisis, countries in Europe and elsewhere have responded through a range of policy measures. Portugal, the UK, and Switzerland have taken price related policy measures, paying more to enhance supply. As have Germany, which has also recently turned to stockpiling essential medicines ahead of another expected seasonal peak this winter. Sweden and Denmark, which both use tenders to set reimbursement prices, have deployed price increases to enhance supply of core medicines. Sweden has also introduced specific incentives to bolster antibiotic stock levels.
For a nation like Ireland, the challenges of medicine shortages have unique complexities. Our smaller population and geographic location mean we lack the volume purchasing power of larger countries who are more centrally located. Our dependency on too few suppliers for too many medicines increases risk. Consequently, we find ourselves particularly vulnerable to the fluctuations and disruptions that can afflict global medicine supply chains.
It is therefore no surprise that the medicine shortage crisis we face as a nation has not abated but rather worsened over time, culminating in a crisis point that calls for vital solutions at policy level.
Download the White Paper here:
Azure Medicines Shortage White paper