The supply tensions that affect pediatric forms of paracetamol and certain antibiotics are expected to continue for at least a few more weeks, until the measures adopted by the health authorities bear fruit, the Ministry of Health reported on Wednesday.
Given the growing tensions over widely used molecules, such as amoxicillin -the most prescribed antibiotic for children-, the authorities have sounded the alarm in recent weeks, asking health professionals to guarantee the proper use of these drugs.
For paracetamol, the situation remains “complex” and will take “a little time to normalize in pediatric forms,” the Health Ministry said during a press conference on Wednesday. In the other forms for adults, “the situation has become more comfortable,” he specifies. As for amoxicillin, “the general situation is being regularized,” according to the ministry, while the producing laboratories begin to replenish their stocks.
multiple causes
The National Agency for Medicines Safety (ANSM) has implemented several measures to respond to the tensions, including the search for import sources and the obligation of manufacturers of amoxicillin and paracetamol to sell their products directly to pharmaceutical distributors, in order to to promote fairer trade. distribution in France. These measures should, according to the Ministry of Health, ease the situation in the coming weeks or months.
Questioned before the Senate, the Minister of Health, François Braun, mentioned on Wednesday multiple causes to explain these difficulties. “The Covid crisis increases a 13% prescription modification for paracetamol. There is concern about the active ingredient, ”he stressed in particular, referring to the“ interest in repatriating this active ingredient to France and Europe ”.
For its part, the ANSM mentioned on Wednesday, during the press conference, a boom in needs linked to winter epidemics. As for amoxicillin, the demand had indeed been lower during the years of the Covid pandemic, thanks to a lower circulation of other diseases. Given the epidemic resumption this fall (bronchiolitis, flu and Covid), it was necessary to reactivate the factories: “It is a process that takes time, with a global impact and that concerns Europe and far beyond Europe”, stressed the ANSM.
Source: BFM TV
