Medication shortages are occurring more often, a reality Luxembourg and other EU member states have to be able to face.  Matic Zorman

Medication shortages are occurring more often, a reality Luxembourg and other EU member states have to be able to face.  Matic Zorman

The grand duchy is following in the footsteps of neighbouring France and Belgium to better manage medication shortages. Five task groups are set to start working on the implementation of a platform and better shortage management in the future.

Luxembourg is preparing a communication system and platform to manage the stock levels of medication in the grand duchy, health minister indicated on 25 August in answer to a parliamentary question from LSAP deputy . The MP had underlined the increased frequency of shortages signalled in France--2,446 in 2020 against 1,504 in 2019. According to Lenert, the national pharmacy and medication division had recorded similar trends in Luxembourg.

Paracetamol shortage to come to an end

Several paracetamol-based products have been unavailable or scarce over the past few months, though their stocks should soon return to normal, Lenert in another parliamentary answer on 29 August. According to the minister, different types of medication containing the compound had been running out since July, while two syrups for children had been out of stock since April. 

Citing the extreme fluctuations in demand for paracetamol over the last couple of years and the laboratories’ difficulty to foresee the demand ahead of time, Lenert said that the grand duchy should soon see its stocks replenished. 

While the shortage could thus-far be countered by alternative medication, worse scenarios would call for different actions, the minister also explained. 

Inspiration from abroad

As a consequence, but also partly born from EU directive --which looks at the handling of medical product shortages--Luxembourg is working on following the example of Belgian website pharmastatut.be, which indicates national medication stocks to Belgian residents. The Luxembourg initiative also aims to inform health professionals, pharmaceutical companies and the public of any issues with supply of medical products and medication.

The project initiated at the end of 2021 will put out a list of essential and critical medication alongside real-time updates on their stock levels too. Other protocols will also be implemented to identity critical situations ahead of time and apply an appropriate strategy, said Lenert in her reply.

Though the presentation of the working groups’ study does not have a publication date yet, the minister also said that the grand duchy in October would be participating alongside 22 other EU member states in an action focused on medical product shortages.