Clinical, Economic and Policy Implications of Drug Shortages in the European Union
Abstract
Drug shortages are an international problem, which seems to worsen. In this paper, the clinical, economic and policy implications of drug shortages are discussed, based on data available for the EU. Research on the clinical impact is scarce. Most data describe that patients will experience more side effects or need to postpone their treatment. However, more detailed research such as case studies and the number of patients affected are lacking. Information on the economic impact is described as an estimation of the time spent by hospital pharmacies. Other stakeholders are also burdened: manufacturers loose part of their profit, patients may pay more for the alternative treatment and society pays for additional health-care costs. However, no data are available. Again more detailed and objective research is necessary to know where the problem is situated and how solutions can be proposed. Policy implications are also rather scarce. However, once more detailed and objective research has been conducted, policy changes will follow. All stakeholders should be involved in the discussions, prior to the implementation of policy measures.
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Medicine shortages are a complex global challenge affecting all countries, including South Africa, with shortages of even essential medicines becoming a global problem irrespective of the economic status of countries.
“Over the years, the shortage of medicines has been a challenge to the effective delivery of quality healthcare services worldwide including South Africa [1–10], with shortages of even essential medicines becoming a global problem irrespective of the economic status of countries [11–13].”
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- Authors
- De Weerdt, E., Simoens, S., Casteels, M., & Huys, I.
- Affiliations
- KU Leuven (BE)
- Venue
- Applied Health Economics and Health Policy
- Published
- 2016-08-01
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 441-445
- ISSN
- 1175-5652 (ISSN-L)
- 1179-1896
- OpenAlex
- W2495313105
- Cited by
- 50
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 3
- FWCI
- 8.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Applied Health Economics and Health Policy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Lirias (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- European Commission
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy
- Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Pharmaceutical Quality and Counterfeiting
- Keywords
- drug shortages, drug supply, clinical impact, economic impact, health policy, hospital pharmacy, treatment delay, health care costs, pharmaceutical manufacturers, European Union
- MeSH terms
- Pharmaceutical Preparations, European Union, Health Policy, Humans
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