Across the world, policymakers are grappling with how to deal with this public health threat.
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September 2024
Guest editor: Amanda Cole | Associate Director
Drug shortages are worrying and widespread.
Working as a researcher it is easy to forget the complex industrial reality of pharmaceutical manufacture and supply, the smooth running of which is essential for patients to access the critical medicines they rely on. It is only when it goes wrong that we notice, and it seems to be going wrong more and more often.
In the last month alone, shortages in drug supply have led to widespread rationing in conditions ranging from epilepsy and ADHD to cystic fibrosis and pancreatic cancer. The Nuffield Trust have called it the “new normal”.
Across the world, policymakers are grappling with how to deal with this public health threat. In the EU, proposals are being considered through pharmaceutical legislation reform to ensure security of supply; it even featured in last week’s long-awaited report by Former Italian Prime Minister Draghi in the context of The future of European competitiveness and bolstering global supply chains of medicines.
Understanding the underlying causes of drug shortages is essential to designing the right policies. Earlier this year, we published research investigating those dynamics, finding them to be complex and multi-faceted, but with strong links (direct and indirect) to price erosion in generic and biosimilar markets.
Today, we publish research on the scale and nature of drug shortage impact, another critical piece in motivating and designing appropriate prevention policies. I look forward to discussing this next week alongside experts at our OHE Webinar dedicated to this important topic. Please join us!
Navigating Drug Shortages
The Cost of Drug Shortages
Drug shortages continue to impact various therapeutic areas, particularly in the off-patent generic and biosimilar markets. Our research highlights that very low prices, driven by cost-containment policies, are a key factor leading to shortages, as they make markets commercially unattractive.
How can policymakers improve drug market sustainability and supply chain resilience to mitigate the long-term risks associated with drug shortages?
In this report, published in January, we highlighted the growing issue of drug shortages, which impacts various therapeutic areas and create significant challenges for patients, healthcare systems, and the economy.
The report analysed key drivers of these shortages, including rising demand, supply chain disruptions, and policy misalignments. What steps can policymakers take to enhance market stability and reduce the risk of drug shortages in the generic and biosimilar sectors?
Around The World in HTAs: Thailand - Evolving Policy Tool
Thailand’s Universal Health Coverage system is a model for achieving high-quality healthcare with limited resources, spending just 5% of its GDP on health.
A key pillar of this success is the integration of Health Technology Assessment into reimbursement decisions for the Universal Coverage Scheme, guaranteeing cost-effective and equitable healthcare solutions.
However, challenges remain, for example in assessing early-stage innovations and addressing the environmental impacts of technologies.
Drug Shortages: What are the causes, consequences and pathways to solution?
24 September 2024, 15:00 BST, Virtual
Join us for an insightful webinar addressing the global challenge of drug shortages, a growing concern across multiple therapeutic areas. Our expert panellists will discuss the complex causes and the impact of shortages on healthcare systems and patients. They will cover the latest research on the financial and social costs and international policy measures to secure a consistent medicine supply, and they will share strategies to shift from managing to preventing shortages. The session will end with a Q&A, offering to engage with the experts.
