On Monday 17 July, the European Commission, the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) published recommendations on measures to be taken to avoid shortages of key antibiotics used to treat respiratory infections in European patients over the coming winter season.
These recommendations, which have been drawn up by the Executive Steering Group on Shortages and Safety of Medicinal Products (MSSG), complement the process of developing an EU list of critical medicines. The Commission is not ruling out joint procurement.
If demand over the coming winter season is similar to the average level of consumption in previous years, the data collected suggests that the EU’s supply of oral formulations of the main first- and second-line antibiotics for respiratory infections will match demand over the coming winter season. The EMA and the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) will continue to work with marketing authorisation holders to strengthen measures to increase the supply of certain intravenous antibiotics.
To better prepare for the winter season, MSSG has agreed on the following recommendations:
Increase production of key antibiotics. To avoid shortages over the coming autumn and winter, EMA and HERA recommend continuing dialogue with marketing authorisation holders in order to step up measures to increase production.
Monitor supply and demand. EMA and the Commission, together with the Member States, will continue to monitor demand and supply in cooperation with the industry. Stockpiling medicines can put a further strain on supplies and cause or exacerbate shortages.
Prudent use. Antibiotics must be used prudently to preserve their efficacy and avoid antimicrobial resistance. Antibiotics should only be prescribed to treat bacterial infections.
Link to the recommendations: https://aeur.eu/f/83d (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)