On Tuesday 4 November, the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients’ Association (EFA) participated in an European Medicines Agency (EMA) online public webinar on medicine shortages and was represented by EFA President, Marcia Podestá. There is clearly work to be done – a 2024 PGEU survey found that 100% of European countries (28) experienced medicines shortages in the last 12 months. The message is clear: involve patients in decisions early, to make transparent, efficient regulatory decisions.
Webinar summary
Medicine supply chains are very complicated; this makes them vulnerable and, if not managed well, can lead to shortages of life saving treatments. During the webinar, patients, consumers and healthcare professionals were invited to speak on the question: What can patients and healthcare professionals do to prevent and manage shortages?
In her intervention, Marcia presented EFA’s work on shortages, including the groups we are involved in (e.g. EMA PCWP) and the current shortages in EFA’s disease areas:
- Salbutamol: Used to treat asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and similar conditions. Under an EMA shortage mandate due to increased demand, manufacturing falling behind.
- EFA action: contacted manufacturers and reviewed EMA public information on shortages.
- Syringe adrenaline auto-injectors (AAI): AAIs are a lifesaving treatment used to treat serious allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) in an emergency. The shortages are driven by a technology transfer delay.
- EFA action: Communication with Italian Medicines Agency, dialogue within EFA and other patient associations and communication of shortage to EMA.
These two examples were followed by six key actions that patients can take to manage and prevent medicine shortages. Read them here.
Webinar takeaways
- Medicine shortages affect all players in the healthcare system: Medicine shortages affect patients, healthcare professionals, pharmacists, manufacturers, regulators, we need a holistic approach which addresses the interconnectivity between them.
- Causes of shortages are complex: Roots of causes can be due to geopolitical factors, natural disasters, public health emergencies, societal factors, manufacturing factors, and economic and social factors.
- Managing shortages is a collective effort: Patients, European Commission, EMA, national authorities, healthcare professionals, manufacturers are all involved, but the key part is engaging patients with national authorities. They can provide guidance, feedback and recommendations to national authorities.
- European shortages measures are working: EMA has worked on measures which prevent shortages, rather than only limit the impact of shortages. For example, amoxicillin which was recently resolved.
- Patients should be involved from the start: Patients and patient organisations should be supported in engaging with national authorities and ministries and EMA to report on shortages. They are the ones experiencing them and are central to alerting authorities.
Next steps
This is the first time EMA organised a public webinar on the topic. EFA will continue to be working closely on medicine shortages, through our work in EMA’s PCWP, EPF’s Task Force of Shortages, the Critical Medicines Alliance and HERA’s Civil Society Forum, as well as upcoming legislative work.
EFA thanks EMA for inviting us to the debate. A special thank you goes to the EMA and European Commission colleagues who also participated in the webinar:
- Melanie Carr, Head of Stakeholders and Communication Division
- Juan Garcia, Head of Public and Stakeholder Engagement
- Laure Geslin, Team Leader at DG SANTE
- Emmanuel Cormier, Head of Regulatory Science and Innovation
- Monica Dias, Head of Availability and Supply of Medicines and Devices
- Inga Abed, Public and Stakeholders Engagement Department
Find more information on the webinar here.
Read EFA’s position on the EU’s Critical Medicines Act here.