ACPE UPN: 0475-0000-14-010-L04-P. A knowledge based activity.

Abstract

In the 2012 Report of the European Medicines Agency it is stated that the occurrence of shortages of medicines has increased over the last few years, owing to a large extent to the globalisation of manufacturing and supply chains. This led to a European short- and medium-term plan to help the European medicines regulatory network prevent, mitigate and manage shortages of important medicines resulting from manufacturing problems. However, for the time being, shortage of drugs is a reality, and the impact and frequency may be different across Europe. Besides understanding the causes and the possible long-term responses, it is important for hospital pharmacists to create strategies to deal with the problems that may impact a patient’s options today.

Teaching Goals:

• to explain the causes of drug shortages and possible long term mechanisms to deal with the problem at a European level,
• to illustrate the impact of drug shortages with examples, involving the impact on patients,
• to identify strategies to overcome immediate problems, from therapeutic alternatives to purchasing methods. 

 Learning Objectives:

After the presentation the participant should be able:

• to recognise the causes of drug shortages and know about on-going initiatives to deal with the problem at a European level,
• to list on-going initiatives to deal with the problem at a European level,
• to apply strategies to overcome immediate problems, from therapeutic alternatives to purchasing methods.