Pharmacists are calling for increased production of prescription drugs after the number of medicines in short supply increased by 50% last year.
Industry group KNMP It said 2,292 medicines will be unavailable for at least two weeks in 2023, representing about 15% of all types. These included drugs to treat cancer, epilepsy, and Parkinson's disease.
The group said international supply chain issues and low prices for off-patent generic drugs are contributing to the shortage.
KNMP added that Dutch health insurers' policy of sticking to the cheapest medicines available has pushed down prices, but has also encouraged suppliers to prioritize other countries when stocks are low.
The problem is getting worse, with affected drugs expected to be out of stock for an average of 107 days in 2023, compared to 91 days a year ago.
Chairman Alice Prince described the situation as “dramatic” and said efforts by manufacturers and wholesalers to secure at least eight weeks' worth of stock had come to nothing.
“Pharmacists work every day to find alternatives to drugs that don't exist,” he said. “It's a band-aid solution.”
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