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Date Published: 07/06/2023

Medication shortage worsens in Spain with 800 common drugs in scant supply

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Patients shouldn’t panic, according to Spanish health experts, as many of the missing meds can be substituted

Medication shortage worsens in Spain with 800 common drugs in scant supply

The supply problem with over-the-counter and regular prescription medication is escalating in Spain, with pharmacists and doctors now struggling to get hold of around 800 different treatments that range from common cold and flu remedies and amoxicillin antibiotics to more serious meds used for heart and nervous system conditions.

This shortage, while not at crisis point, is “worrying,” according to the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) and it’s an issue that is growing rather than improving.

There are several reasons for this scarcity, the lack of manufacturers chief among them. In Spain, the majority of our drugs come from Asia, where the availability of active ingredients to make the medication and even cardboard for packaging isn’t as readily available. The price of raw materials has also skyrocketed, right along with inflation.

Pharmaceutical expert Antonio Blanes also blames the relatively low cost of remedies in Spain, which encourages people to bulk buy and essentially clear out the pharmacies of stock.

However, AEMPS director María Jesús Lamas reassured this week that of the 32,000 ailments commonly treated by the hard to come by drugs, only 0.33% of patients are really affected, since in the vast majority of cases, alternative brands are available.

Of the total number of meds in short supply, there are just 108 that can’t be substituted with generic makes. In these cases, doctors will have to change their treatment strategy.

While the trend is certainly concerning, the silver lining, according to Lamas, is that manufacturers are notifying the authorities of any potential supply problems well in advance, giving pharmacies plenty of time to survey their stock. In this situation, forewarned is forearmed.

In other news: Sweet success: Ryanair gives in and permits pastries on Spanish flights

Image: Pixabay

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