- Amidst the backdrop of widespread medicine supply challenges across Europe1, a new independent study investigates the reasons behind the shortages of essential off-patent medicines, with a particular focus on antibiotics.
- The study, conducted in 16 countries (Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) confirms that shortages of key antibiotics, like amoxicillin and azithromycin, result from a confluence of factors including rising production costs and persistent price decreases.
- The study shows that between 2020 and 2024, the average price of the top 10 off-patent antibiotics dropped by 10%2, despite sharp increases in production costs and inflation.
- These dynamics are driven by national pricing systems that do not give the possibility to manufacturers to increase prices even when facing steep cost increases, further limiting patient access to essential medicines in Europe. Therefore, the study calls for reforms to national pricing and procurement systems to secure patient access to medicines.
Europe has long benefited from a competitive off-patent medicines market, delivering safe, effective, and affordable treatments to millions of patients.
To protect this access model, pricing and procurement systems must evolve to address current access challenges and reward off-patent medicines for their therapeutical value.
New pricing and procurement systems should enable economic viability of medicines, protecting availability and patient access.
Ensuring access to medicines is a shared responsibility. Collaboration between policymakers, patient associations, healthcare professionals and pharmaceutical actors can lay the foundation for a stronger European Health Union. One that serves the needs of every citizen.
