The Panhellenic Association of Pharmacists calls for control of all three supply “links” of the pharmaceutical market (pharmaceutical industry, pharmacy warehouses, pharmacies) and not to target pharmacy warehouses due to a shortage of medicines.

The association complains that nine pharmaceutical companies systematically bring fewer drugs to the market.

Representatives of the Panhellenic Association of Pharmacists, President E. Markakis and G.Yu. T. Skylakakis assessed during a press conference that the situation on the market is gradually normalizing, mainly in relation to antipyretics (paracetamol) and antitussive drugs.

The list published by EOF “seems to be starting to work and patients seem to be turning to Greek generics in this therapeutic category.” The problem continues to exist with respect to inhaled and pediatric antibiotic syrups..

What are the reasons for the lack of medicines?

“The problem of shortages is a pan-European one due to problems in the supply chain,” said representatives of the Panhellenic Association of Pharmacists.

The second most serious reason is considered to be “the lack of market supply by individual companies, which has been observed in the last 5 years”.

Representatives of the Panhellenic Association of Pharmacists released documents with complaints, which they sent to the EOF with notification to the Minister of Health, about nine pharmaceutical companies that “systematically undersupply the market, creating shortages and endangering the health of the population.”

They demand an immediate investigation by the EOF and take all necessary action to “stop this dangerous practice and punish those who carry it out.”

Parallel export

With regard to the “parallel export” of medicinal products, the representatives of the Association stated that this is a legal procedure and is carried out exclusively after the coverage of the domestic market and in any case concerns only those goods whose export is authorized by the EOF.

Parallel exports, according to representatives of the Association, are not the main cause of the shortage, since the phenomenon of shortage is multifactorial.

However, they talked about illegal exports, which are carried out from pharmacies that are not members of the Association, as well as from pharmacies.

According to the data presented, legal exports in 2021 amounted to 400 million, which is 66.6% less than exports 15 years ago.

“Pharmacists do not give up control, but only they are controlled,” they stressed, demanding the establishment of a mandatory electronic prescription for all goods included in the compensation list, all parts of the drug market should be under control.

RES-EMP source