If the original packaging is no longer available, pharmacies or doctors will have to dispense certain medicines in partial quantities from Thursday. This is recommended by the “Task Force Bottleneck Medicines”, as announced by the Federal Office for National Economic Supply (BWL).
Due to the current supply disruption, all pack sizes of certain medicines are no longer available, the FONES writes in a press release on Wednesday. In these cases there is a risk that more medication is provided than is necessary for the therapy. The remains would then have to be disposed of.
For example, in a maximum of 50 percent of antibiotics-Packs contain more tablets than would be needed for one therapy. The proposed measure would allow the available medicines to be expanded to a larger number of patients, it said.
The decision on the duration of therapy is still up to the medical professionals. And the patients continued to receive the amount needed for successful therapy.
The original package leaflet must continue to be handed in and the partial quantities must also be labelled, checked and documented according to the original packaging. This ensures traceability in the event of a recall. The measure is limited in time and will only be enforced until the supply situation for the active substances concerned has stabilized again.
Hospital pharmacist Enea Martinelli and member of the task force told the radio program SRF “Info3” that the delivery of part quantities certainly helps ease the situation a bit. But it’s only one measure in the short termwhich could only bring relief in the short term.
The BWL announces on its website which medicines can be supplied in partial quantities. This list is updated monthly. Liquids, effervescent tablets and tablets in multi-dose containers are not eligible for partial delivery. Tablets and capsules in blister packs – so-called blisters – must not be pushed out.
After the Medicines Business Administration assessed the supply situation of medicines as “problematic”, the Medicines Bottleneck Task Force was set up at the end of January. These include the Medical Association FMH and the Swiss Association of Pharmacists Pharmasuisse.
At the same time, the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) also announced several measures to ensure the supply of medicines to the Swiss population. Since the beginning of this year, medicines made by the pharmacy itself – such as syrups for pain in children – have been reimbursed by health insurers under certain conditions.
In addition, the BAG wants vital and cheap medicines such as antibiotics Refrain from price reductions “in justified cases”. and raise prices instead. Because too low prices can lead manufacturers to remove the products from the Swiss market due to lack of profitability. This means that the medicines must remain available.
(jam/sda)
Source: Blick
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