EU Faces Ongoing Drug Shortages,Report Warns
Brussels – A new report from the European Court of Auditors paints a concerning picture for pharmaceutical availability across the European Union,predicting continued bottlenecks in the supply of essential medicines,including common antibiotics. Despite existing efforts to address the issue, the risk of shortages remains notable.
The number of reported drug shortages reached a record high in 2023 and 2024. Between January 2022 and October 2024, EU member states flagged critical defects in the supply of 136 different drugs. Austria reported eight such shortages during this period.
Data from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) indicates that Belgium, Spain, and France experienced the highest number of reported bottlenecks between 2022 and 2024. Austria ranks eleventh, placing it in the middle of the pack. Austrian regulations require immediate reporting of any prescription drug shortage lasting longer than two weeks.
“The EU needs an effective solution to remedy these critical bottlenecks,” stated Klaus-Heiner Lehne of the European Court of Auditors. He further highlighted the EU’s reliance on external sources for key medications, stating, “In common pain relievers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, the EU is completely dependent on Asia.”
The Court of auditors attributes the shortages to vulnerabilities within pharmaceutical supply chains and fragmentation of the EU’s internal market, hindering free trade of medicines.
Responding to the report, the EU Commission, responsible for relevant legislative proposals, confirmed it is incorporating the Court of Auditors’ findings into a stronger EU framework aimed at tackling the issue. The Commission expressed hope that upcoming legislative proposals will gain approval from EU member states and the European Parliament, enabling effective action to mitigate drug shortages.
