2023-06-14 13:55:00
Antibiotics, paracetamol… For many months now the situation continues to worsen in France, with regard to the supply of medicines. To face it, government measures have been taken. The Minister of Health, François Braun, even had a list of 281 drugs considered critical prepared in early May 2023.
Tuesday, June 13, traveling in Ardèche, Emmanuel Macron, the Head of State, returned to this supply problem. He unveiled several measures to to avoid the risk of shortages, with a budget of more than 160 million euros. At the top of the list, the relocation of several drugs.
France depends about 80% on China for its medicines
The big announcement to remember from the speech of the President of the Republic is the relocation of 50 drugs considered critical. One of the main causes of this shortage lies in the fact that France produces few drugs.
In effect, 60 to 80% of the active ingredients of so-called mature drugs (antibiotics or anesthesia products) are produced in China and India. This figure rises to 95% for biomedicines. “As the Covid-19 crisis had already taught us, delegating the production of our essential pharmaceuticals to others is a dead end for the country“, explained this Tuesday, Emmanuel Macron on his Twitter account.
Relocate the production of 50 drugs to the national territory
“The long-term solution to avoid shortages in our pharmacies is to find factories. And that’s what we’re doing for many drugs“, he adds, while he is traveling in Ardèche on the site of the Aguettant laboratory.
Thus, the Head of State is launching a major relocation plan. Eight new projects from drug production were launched nationwide. The objective is to produce 50 so-called drugs “essentials“. Half of them are deemed to have even higher priority and should be relocated in the coming weeks. These treatments include amoxicillin, morphine, adrenaline or more cancer drugs like melphalan.
A list of 400 so-called “essential” drugs
The government also plans to establish a list of so-called “essential” medicines. This list of 450 drugs takes into account the 50 deemed priorities. To these treatments are added, among others, antidepressants, anxiolytics, xanax and certain vaccines such as the flu vaccine. Other treatments aimed at countering addiction such as anti-tobacco patches are also part of this list.
“A single list of drugs to treat our fellow citizens“, details Emmanuel Macron. This evolving list was unveiled by the Minister of Health on Tuesday afternoon. “For these molecules, manufacturers must have four months of stocks“, summarizes the Minister of Health.
Accelerating the advance of biomedicines
The other objective is to accelerate the production of biomedicines. These are drugs created from living organisms or their cells. The Head of State calls for “simplify clinical trials“and to massive”the innovative purchase of technologies“. He sets the objective of “20 biomedicines” created in France, and for this he believes that it is necessary “go much faster“.
The implementation of a white plan in the event of a shortage
In the event of a shortage, Emmanuel Macron wants as a last resort put in place a white drug plan. “A white drug plan will be developed, as we know how to do for our structures”, concluded the president. However, he did not give further details on this device.
1686828012
#Shortage #medicines #Emmanuel #Macrons #announcements