The production of medicines “must be the great European project for the reindustrialization of our continent”, argues the Federation of Pharmaceutical Unions of France

In 2023, nearly 5,000 reports and risks of stock shortages have been recorded by the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM).

The production of medicines “must be the great European project for the reindustrialization of our continent”, pleaded Thursday February 22 on franceinfo the president of the Federation of Pharmaceutical Unions of France (FSPF), Philippe Besset. The government announced concrete measures on Wednesday to anticipate drug shortages. In 2023, nearly 5,000 reports and risks of stock shortages have been recorded by the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM).

To ensure better availability of medicines, the three-year roadmap (2024-2027) provides for relocation efforts and an increase in the production capacity of “147 strategic drugs”those for which France depends the most on extra-European imports.

Pharmacy blood tests for antibiotics?

“The first response is to produce medicines on our French and European soil”underlines the president of the main union of community pharmacists. “We must repatriate essential molecules to European soil,” he says, “but the State must not be naive about this” in a context of strong global competition. The production of active ingredients, mature drugs and generics has been relocated to China and India.

In terms of proper use of medicines, emphasis will be placed on not prescribing antibiotics. “We consume a lot of antibiotics in France, too much”explains the pharmacist: “This could be reduced by new processes which would ask doctors or pharmacists to check whether the antibiotic is really useful”assures Philippe Besset. “What we are going to do are tests, that is to say allow doctors to do tests with a small drop of blood, in order to determine whether the disease is indeed bacterial”, he specifies. A “test” Who “can be done in a pharmacy” also, according to him.

To best anticipate shortages, the executive is also banking on better information for doctors and pharmacists. “It is a desire to allow doctors to know if medications are out of stock in order to be able to give others, and a desire to give pharmacists the possibility of exchanging them on a list which will be created by the High Authority of Health “explains the president of the FSPF.