Why are there no medicines? Blame the widespread flu and lockdowns in China and India – Corriere.it

After the alarm signaled by other European countries, first and foremost France which banned the online sale of paracetamol-based products until the end of January, a difficulty in finding some commonly used medicines. The active ingredient that is most difficult to trace is ibuprofen in syrup – explains Marco Cossolo, president of Federfarma -, but what is not lacking are alternatives and valid solutions. In fact, it is not a health emergency that is being encountered at the EU level, but a complication that will force consumers to take a different approach to the drug.

What determines the lack of drugs

There are several factors that influence the shortage: At a national level, there is an increase in consumption linked on the one hand to the spread of an influenza with heavier symptoms than in the past – argues Cossolo – and on the other also to Covid, which in 90% of cases it is treated at home with anti-inflammatories. The same medicines are required for both pathologies and the demand leads us to grow dramatically. The offer struggles to keep up also due to the international situation which also affects this sector. First of all, the relocation of some drugs to China and India has made importation more problematic – adds the president of FederFarma -, because they are countries currently in full lockdown and this slows down production. Furthermore, the energy crisis and the rise in prices are forcing a lengthening of the supply chain: Just think of the increase in fuel: trucks don’t leave to deliver the goods unless they are full.

The solutions

The shortage of raw materials, linked to the conflict in Ukraine, also affects the slowdown in the delivery of medicines, as there are no plastic, paper and glass for packaging. The solutions, however, are not lacking. Taking into account the active ingredient, the pharmacist can very well recommend an equivalent medicine, specifying form and dosage, which the patient can take without problems, continues Cossolo. Also working on the measurement could be a valid alternative. For example, if ibuprofen 600 is temporarily unavailable, three doses of 200 can be added. As for the version in syrup, the one most lacking, this is a problem above all in pediatric preparations, since children cannot be given capsules and pills – concludes Cossolo -, but even this can be remedied by setting up the preparation in the galenic laboratories, which many Italian pharmacies are now equipped with.

Medicines in decline

Aifa, the Italian Medicines Agency, regularly publishes the list of medicines which are in shortage. In recent weeks it seems to have lengthened particularly: as of 3 January, i missing medicines are 3,198, rising by 66 units compared to 3,132 at the end of December. For example, many Ibuprofen-based drugs appear on the list, such as Moment, Neo Borocillina, Nurofen and Spididol.