For several months, France has been experiencing major drug supply problems. On the website of the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM), a list presents the medicines concerned by a “supply tension” but also by a pure and simple “out of stock”. In 2022, nearly 3,000 drugs experienced severe strain, compared to 405 in 2016.
On March 1, François Braun, Minister of Health, declared to the National Assembly that the shortages were due to an increase in demand “due to the meeting of several winter epidemics”, reports BFMTV. Indeed, this winter was marked by resurgences of bronchiolitis, influenza, Covid-19 but also nasopharyngitis.
In addition to this epidemic context, “insufficient anticipation by manufacturers, the health crisis having caused a drop in the consumption of the population for several consecutive periods”, according to the Minister of Health.
Finally, France’s dependence on foreign powers exporting active ingredients should be taken into consideration. According to La Dépêche, 80% of the active ingredients needed to manufacture drugs are produced in India or China. According to a 2019 report, the role played in shortages by supply disruptions of active ingredients had already been pointed out.
This Monday, April 3, 2023, the government announced that it was preparing a list of “critical” drugs to limit the risk of shortages, on BFMTV. François Braun has indeed declared that his ministry was in the process of “finalizing” a list of “essential drugs” for the month of May.
François Braun assured that “there is no medicine in absolute rupture”, but medicines “in tension”, with “less than a month of stock” and which we “do not find in all pharmacies “. However, the situation could get worse. According to a study by the France Assos Santé observatory, 37% of people faced a shortage in 2023. However, some drugs are essential, particularly those used to fight against serious pathologies.
What is the government’s plan to prevent drug shortages? What will this “essentials” list look like? What will it be used for? Explanations in the slideshow below.