‘People are looking for things on the street again’

Unsafe months are ahead for Switzerland’s 9,000 methadone patients – their drug may soon be unavailable. The Swiss Association for Addiction Medicine (SSAM) warns of a shortage of high-dose tablets given to addicts.

As SRF reported, the Swissmedic therapeutic products institute has suspended the operating license of the main Swiss methadone producer for safety reasons.

Drug partially already sold out

Psychiatrist Thilo Beck takes care of drug addicts in Zurich and calls the impending bottleneck a “disaster”. The preparation is already sold out at the wholesaler. “We have made provisions and so have enough medication for the next four weeks.”

In the absence of other medicines, you can usually rely on alternative products. “With methadone, we have no alternative.” Beck therefore fears that some of his 400 patients could slip back into illegal addiction if a replacement is not found in time. “I’m afraid some people will start looking for material on the street again.”

It is possible to order the drug abroad. Then the patients would have to pay the costs themselves. “A lot of people can’t afford that,” says Beck. That is why he hopes for a simplified import of methadone tablets from abroad, which will be reimbursed by health insurance.

Import from abroad is possible

The FPS Public Health sees no urgent need for action. In individual cases, a treating physician can request a cost certificate from the health insurer for the reimbursement of medicines imported from abroad. This form of reimbursement is generally supported by health insurers in the event of supply bottlenecks.

But addiction experts are not satisfied with that: with 9000 people, it is not about individual cases, they want a more binding commitment from the health insurers. The Federal Office for National Economic Provision has meanwhile announced that it is in close contact with hospitals, addiction care and other companies and authorities to support them in finding a solution.

Juvenile thieves started an investigation

It all started when seven young people broke into one of the company’s production facilities. The young thieves then came into the hands of a police patrol. It was only then that authorities became aware of possible safety deficiencies at the plant.

Based on an inspection, Swissmedic accuses the Aargau producer of “negligence” that “can no longer be tolerated for safety reasons”. The federal court supports the ruling.