Germany is going through shortages of many frequent medicines, placing the squeeze on pharmacies and leaving mother and father throughout the nation in a determined state.
Anadolu Agency spoke to a pharmacist in Berlin who known as the scenario very critical, with mother and father struggling to search out drugs for his or her kids.
“The situation is very bad at the moment, especially for children, as we can hardly supply them with medicines,” mentioned Julian Wawrzyniak, including that greater than 300 medicines are at present unavailable.
“There are different reasons for this, partly due to the war in Ukraine, also partly due to the global supply chain issues, the coronavirus, high energy prices, production costs … the producers are facing big challenges,” he mentioned.
Another main drawback has been the drug-pricing system in Germany, as public medical health insurance funds aren’t paying greater than the legally set worth for generic medicines.
Although the German authorities lately introduced changes to the system, Wawrzyniak mentioned there was no speedy change within the scenario.
“On the contrary, I have the feeling that it may get worse because for the time being, as even cough syrup isn’t available,” he mentioned.
“I hope that things will get better, and of course if politicians take the measures, but I don’t see this at the moment. I hope things will get better maybe before the spring,” he added.
PHARMACIES FEELING THE HEAT
According to the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, the medicine at present unavailable within the nation embody antibiotics, diabetes medicine, most cancers medicine, antihypertensives, and painkillers.
A significant purpose for the provision bottlenecks is a scarcity of deliveries from nations akin to China and India, in accordance with the BfArM.
Some 80% of medicines offered within the nation are generics produced in nations like China and India. In the case of antibiotics, for instance, generics have a 100% market share in Germany.
Wawrzyniak informed Anadolu Agency that the medication scarcity has put pharmacies underneath immense stress in latest weeks.
“We have conversations with patients each and every day, we have to tell them we don’t have these drugs, or that we can’t order them,” he defined
“Sadly we have to send them away empty handed. It’s really sad, because this is about people’s health, well-being. And moreover, we can’t do our job, we can’t help them with the medicine,” he added.
