Berlin: (hib/PK) The drug manufacturers are demanding better framework conditions to ensure supplies and avoid delivery bottlenecks. Inadequate prices and bureaucratic requirements are criticized, as a hearing in the Health Committee on an application (20/9319) from the Union faction showed on Wednesday. The experts expressed their views at the hearing and in written statements.
The Union parliamentary group is calling on the federal government to take further initiatives to ensure the supply of medicines. The group’s motion states that the situation regarding the availability of urgently needed medicines, including child-friendly antibiotics, remains very tense.
The Federal Association of Drug Manufacturers (BAH) spoke of one of the biggest challenges in the healthcare system in Germany and Europe with regard to security of supply. The association demanded adequate income for service providers as well as the avoidance of additional requirements or the dismantling of unjustified requirements in connection with the approval and monitoring of medicines and the approval procedures.
The Pro Generika association called for legal changes to improve the supply situation. The Drug Supply Bottleneck Combating and Supply Improvement Act (ALBVVG) was intended to initiate a move away from over-economization and provide incentives for generic drug companies. However, this was only implemented for two drug groups, antibiotics and children’s medicines. The law did not improve supply.
The Federal Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers (PHAGRO) sees an increasing number of supply bottlenecks for pharmaceuticals. Since it is sometimes impossible to procure medicines as needed, let alone build up stocks, wholesalers cannot meet their legal obligation to hold emergency medicines and children’s antibiotics.
The Noweda Pharmacists’ Cooperative confirmed the trend in the hearing. In the past eight weeks, around three million orders could not have been delivered, including active ingredients such as antibiotics and asthma medications. It’s also about cholesterol lowering drugs, blood pressure lowering drugs and painkillers. Many necessary children’s medicines cannot currently be stocked because the manufacturers are not supplying them.
The Federal Association of German Pharmacists Associations (ABDA) complained about bureaucratic requirements and inadequate remuneration. The pharmacies are cut off from economic development, are heavily burdened by bureaucracy and are therefore unable to use their expertise.
Further information about the hearing and the statements of the experts on bundestag.de: