What is being done about the shortage of medicines?

Time and again, there is a shortage of important medicines throughout Europe. Since the Covid 19 crisis, this seems to be an increasingly common occurrence. DP MPs Carole Hartmann and Gilles Baum asked the Minister of Health what measures are being taken at national and European level in the short term to address the shortage of medicines.

Question

« Les médecins et les pharmaciens de nos voisins allemands, belges et français sonnent régulièrement l’alarme concernant la grave pénurie de médicaments. Depuis l’année dernière, la pénurie de médicaments pour enfants est particulièrement préoccupante. Selon nos informations, l’antibiotique Cefuroxime n’est actuellement disponible dans aucune pharmacie du pays.

Dans ce contexte, nous aimerions poser les questions urgentes suivantes à Madame la Ministre de la Santé :

  • Que fait concrètement le ministère de la Santé pour que les médicaments essentiels soient disponibles en quantité suffisante dans le pays ?
  • Quelles sont les négociations en cours au niveau de l’UE pour garantir l’accès aux médicaments essentiels dans tous les États membres, et ce également à court terme ?
  • Quels médicaments ne sont pas disponibles actuellement ? Existe-t-il des alternatives, tel que des médicaments génériques qui seraient disponibles immédiatement ? Dans l’affirmative, lesquelles ?
  • Les médecins sont-ils encouragés à prescrire directement des alternatives en cette période de pénurie de médicaments ? Dans la négative, pour quelles raisons ? »

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