[Is the Supply of Medicines in Danger?]

Abstract

The healthcare system in Austria is currently affected by supply chain problems for certain drugs. These are mainly low-priced drugs, but they are of great importance for our health system. A sudden, excessive demand cannot be compensated by the drug manufacturers in the short term. The reasons are the complex and highly regulated manufacture of drugs, drastic supply chain problems for all components of the product as a result of the coronavirus crisis and the Ukraine conflict and, of course, dependence on active ingredients and finished medicinal products from countries such as India or China. The medium-term goal must be to reduce this dependency. Appropriate framework conditions must be created, such as coordination on an European basis or faster approval procedures. Another important issue from the point of view of a company producing in Austria is also a rethinking of the pricing policy for reimbursed drugs. Fair prices are the basis for ensuring that the Austrian pharmaceutical market can be well supplied and that pharmaceutical production in Austria can be secured.