Government Official Warken Announces Delivery of Pharmaceuticals in Autumn Season
Germany is set for a stable autumn and winter in terms of pharmaceutical supply, according to Federal Health Minister Nina Warken. Speaking recently, Warken announced that the situation has improved significantly, particularly with children's medicines, compared to previous years.
The improvement is partly due to the Anti-Shortage Act passed by the previous government in 2023. This law, which is not named explicitly in the sources, aims to address acute supply problems with children's medicines by relaxing price rules to make deliveries to Germany more attractive for manufacturers.
Under the Anti-Shortage Act, stocks of several months' worth of frequently used medicines have been made mandatory as a safety buffer. However, no new information was provided about the impact of this act on children's medicines or the current status of these mandatory stocks.
In addition to the Anti-Shortage Act, Warken highlighted a reform intended to provide pharmacies with more leeway in dealing with medicines. This reform, which includes more flexibility for pharmacies in exchanging suitable available medicines, is part of a broader effort to strengthen the production location in Europe.
The European Union is also taking steps to strengthen the production location in Europe, according to Warken. Further EU regulations are expected to support this initiative.
Warken emphasized that the supply of pharmaceuticals has a very high priority at both national and European levels. She also implied that quick responses can be made to address shortages with appropriate measures, if necessary.
Overall, the situation regarding the availability of medicines this autumn and winter is stable, according to Warken. However, it is important to continue monitoring the situation to ensure that the improvements seen in recent years are maintained.
