Tension or scarcity?
Many drugs are available in several packaging: box of 8 or 16 tablets, liquid version, etc. This multiplies the alternatives, just like the generics, recalls “Les Echos”. Also, the tension sometimes concerns a drug related to bobology. But some vitally important references lack alternatives. This is particularly the case for anti-cancer and anti-diabetic drugs. In his interview with “Échos”, David Syr of GIE Gers confirms: “Currently, supply disruptions do not affect any drug for more than half of its references”.
What drugs are these?
However, the list of drugs of major therapeutic interest – that is to say likely to jeopardize the vital prognosis of a person in the event of interruption of treatment – currently subject to supply difficulties and for which there are no or insufficient therapeutic alternatives available on the French market is long, according to the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM). These include paracetamol, amoxicillin, augmentin, ventolin… Some references concern “antidiabetics, statins for cholesterol, treatments for erectile dysfunction or even a drug for gastric reflux”, lists David Syr, with the “Echoes”.
What are the causes ?
Interviewed by “20minutes”, Thomas Borel, scientific director at the Pharmaceutical Companies, talks about Ukraine and the impact on the increase in energy and transport. “The price of inputs, that is to say aluminum, cardboard and glass, has taken 25%”, he told the media, who underlined that these materials are essential for the packaging of medicines. . “Procurement times are also longer, by 25% on average,” he continues.
The supply of raw materials is also in tension and “the countries which pay the most expensive active ingredient go first”, adds Philippe Besset, president of the Federation of pharmaceutical unions of France, with “20minutes”. “Our country does not pass on all these increases to the sale prices of drugs, since there is no free price”, assures Thomas Borel for his part. In France, the price is strictly controlled by the State and some laboratories sell at a loss, specifies the daily. There is also an increase in global demand, particularly for antidiabetics, in connection with junk food, explains the newspaper “Les Échos”, which quotes the International Diabetes Federation.