Dutch AZWA work agenda must improve the availability of medicines

The Dutch Association of Innovative Medicines (VIG), together with the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and other parties in the pharmaceutical supply chain, has signed the Work Agenda for Better Availability of Medicines. This forms part of the Supplementary Care and Welfare Agreement (AZWA) and contains a package of eleven measures to improve the availability of medicines for patients.

On behalf of the VIG, general director Carla Vos signed the work agenda. This focuses, among other things, on improving the provision of information to patients, reducing administrative burdens, a faster approach to (impending) shortages, and measures to prevent medicines from disappearing from the Dutch market. The consequences of the drug reimbursement system (GVS) and the Medicines Pricing Act (Wgp) for the availability of medicines are also being examined.