2024-09-15 04:02:32
Autumn is just around the corner, the cold wave is starting to roll in. And there are again a number of medicines missing from pharmacies. Which active ingredients are involved?
Ahead of the upcoming cold season, pharmacies are warning of shortages of certain medications. “There is no end in sight to the delivery problems,” said the head of the North Rhine Pharmacists’ Association, Thomas Preis, to the “Rheinische Post” (Saturday).
“We are particularly concerned that many antibiotics are already unavailable – and the cold season with many respiratory infections has not even started yet. Many antibiotic syrups are also affected by the shortages. 500 medicines have been marked as unavailable, said Preis.
A federal law to combat supply shortages that has been in force since 2023 has had almost no effect, complains the pharmacy representative. “Politicians and pharmaceutical manufacturers must now finally ensure stable conditions.”
However, the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices sees no cause for concern, particularly with regard to the provision of medicines for children in the coming wave of colds: “Compared to last year, the current situation regarding the supply of children’s antibiotics is much more relaxed,” said a spokesperson. No supply bottlenecks have been reported for fever syrups either.