The shortage of paracetamol in pharmacies will be solved “in the coming weeks” and that of the antibiotic amoxicillin will be “in the weeks, the months to come”said, Sunday, November 20, the Minister of Health, François Braun. “We have tensions on our drug stocks, it’s a reality”recognized the minister, questioned during the program “Le Grand Jury RTL-Le Figaro-LCI”.
According to him, with regard to paracetamol: “In the coming weeks we will have solved this problem, with stocks returning to normal levels. » He listed the actions taken to remedy this shortage: “Pharmacists have limited the number of boxes [vendues par personne] – since it is a product that can be given without a prescription – we called on manufacturers in the sector to increase the production lines, which work seven days a week and twenty-four hours a day. »
On the subject of amoxicillin, the main antibiotic prescribed to children in France to fight against a series of bacterial infections, such as certain ear infections and pneumonia, Mr. Braun acknowledged that a date for returning to normal was ” hard to say “then clarified: “in the weeks, the months to come”.
???????? Shortage of amoxicillin: the Minister of Health François Braun (@FrcsBraun) plans a return to normal “in… https://t.co/nn4YQu6Pr0
“Strong supply tensions”
“We have remobilized the entire sector, we are banning the resale of amoxicillin” at ” other countries “. “I authorized pharmacists to unpack”, he also said. The authorities have also called on doctors and patients to use these antibiotics only if really necessary.
On Friday, the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) had mentioned a situation “strong supply tensions” which could last until March. “The challenge, which is major, is that these are not drugs that are produced in France”affirmed François Braun, emphasizing that the government’s “France 2030” investment plan aimed to “repatriate all these industries that produce these essential drugs to France, to Europe, to ensure our sovereignty”.
According to health authorities, this shortage is explained by an increase in demand for several years marked by the Covid-19 crisis and multiple health restrictions which had reduced the spread of certain diseases.