Minister Warken announces medication distribution in the autumn season
In a recent statement to Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Federal Health Minister Nina Warken assured the public of a guaranteed supply of drugs this fall and winter. The minister's assurance comes amid improved medication availability compared to previous years, a development that has been particularly significant in the case of children's medications.
However, it's important to note that the reform proposed by Minister Warken does not directly address the specific issue of children's medications, as addressed by the Anti-Shortage Act passed by the previous government in 2023. The Anti-Shortage Act was implemented to improve the situation with children's medications, relaxing price rules to make drug deliveries to Germany more attractive for manufacturers and mandating stocks of several months' worth of frequently used drugs as a safety buffer.
The focus of the current reform, instead, is on providing more options for pharmacies to ensure medication supply. Minister Warken suggests that prompt measures can be taken in case of medication shortages. However, the minister did not specify what these 'appropriate measures' might be.
The minister emphasized that the drug supply has a high priority on both a national and European level. Further EU regulations are expected to strengthen the production location in Europe, which could potentially mitigate future supply issues.
In addition, Minister Warken plans to give pharmacies more flexibility in exchanging suitable medications. This move is intended to provide more leeway for pharmacies, as the reform proposes.
The German Bundestag passed the Anti-Shortage Act (Anti-Kurzliefergesetz) in 2023 to address acute supply problems with children's medications. The Act was a response to the critical situation regarding the availability of medications, particularly for children.
Minister Warken assures that the supply of drugs is guaranteed, and predicts a stable medication supply this fall and winter. The situation with children's medications has shown significant improvement, thanks in part to the implementation of the Anti-Shortage Act.
As the situation continues to evolve, it is hoped that the measures taken by the current government, along with the provisions of the Anti-Shortage Act, will ensure a stable and reliable supply of medications for all.
