Govt outlines measures to tackle medicines shortages in Greece

Shortages of medicines in Greece are mainly due to the significant decrease in their prices (as was the case in 2010) which is a powerful incentive for the export and sales of drugs by wholesalers to other European Union countries at higher prices (parallel exports) and for reduced supply or even withdrawal of these medicinal products by pharmaceutical companies. These activities of the wholesalers and companies are legitimate, provided adequate supply of the Greek market is ensured, according to a statement for tha national regulator.

Given that in the last four months there have been significant shortages of important medicinal products in the market, the Greek National Organization for Medicines (EOF) proceeded to the ban of exports of four medicines and imposed penalties on two pharmaceutical companies. The EOF has also convened three meetings with the representatives of the pharmaceutical companies, the wholesalers and pharmacists to address the problem.

Despite these measures, shortages continued throughout January 2011. The EOF collected reports by Greek pharmacists’ associations, and oral complaints. As a result, the EOF compiled a list of 61 medicines (118 pharmaceutical forms) for further investigation. The representatives of the relevant pharmaceutical companies and the representatives of wholesalers were invited to meetings at the EOF’s premises in the last fortnight, in order to assess the extent of the shortages and identify the causes of shortages for each product separately.