It has become difficult to find pain relievers and antipyretics for children in pharmacies in the country, which is facing epidemics of Kovid-19, bronchiolitis and flu. It is almost impossible to find drugs containing paracetamol and amoxicillin in the country. Souhil Cherraben, a pharmacist in the province of Yvelines, west of France’s capital, Paris, told Anadolu Agency (AA) that the shortage that has been going on for months covers many medicines. Cherraben explained that there is a drug containing paracetamol among their problems in supply, and that very few of them are available. Drawing attention to the fact that there is a real shortage of amoxicillin antibiotics for children, Cherraben said that this shortage spread to the syrup form of the drug, and then to the tablet form produced for adults, which they divided into two to give to children. “Therefore, physicians receive health notifications to replace amoxicillin with other antibiotics, which leads to a shortage of both antibiotics and amoxicillin over time, and we are tied, we don’t know what to do,” said Cherraben. Drawing attention to the shortage of saline and syrup, Cherraben expressed the difficulties experienced by pharmacies on duty, especially at night, due to the lack of availability of drugs. Drawing attention to the general practitioners’ strike that has been going on since the beginning of the week in France as well as the shortage of medicines, Cherraben commented that pharmacists “do not do much” when there are no physicians and medicines. While the National Medicines Agency (ANSM) confirmed that there was a supply shortage in amoxicillin-based antibiotics for children, it was attributed to the increased consumption of antibiotics and problems in production. Pointing out that the production capacity of amoxicillin has not reached the level before the Kovid-19 outbreak, ANSM has published a statement containing recommendations for the prescription and sale of drugs containing amoxicillin. The statement includes advice for doctors not to prescribe antibiotics for a viral infection. ANSM announced that they have taken steps such as diversifying import sources against the shortage experienced in some drugs. Intensive care services are full According to ANSM data, there is a shortage or supply shortage of approximately 3,000 medicines in France in 2022. This number was 871 in 2018. These include cough syrup and medicines for heart disease. The French Ministry of Health announced that supply shortages for children’s versions of some antibiotic and paracetamol-based drugs will continue for a few more weeks. Pointing out that the country is facing 3 epidemics this week, French Health Minister Francois Braun said that this is a “very dangerous week”. Braun drew attention to the occupancy of intensive care services due to the serious increase in flu cases. The French Minister said that they will start work on the restructuring of the country’s health system next month. Call for relocation of pharmaceutical production to France While there were shortages of many drugs in England and Germany, problems arose in the supply of some drugs at the beginning of the month in China, which was under the influence of the Kovid-19 epidemic. Against the increase in demand for paracetamol and ibuprofen-based drugs, China decided to increase the production of paracetamol-containing drugs and to stop its export. With China’s decision to purchase drugs from abroad, the problem in drug supply in France and Europe is expected to deepen. Remi Salomon, President of the Conference of Presidents of University Hospitals Medical Institutions Commissions in France, said on Twitter on December 24, “80% of the active ingredients, which are the raw materials of our medicines, are produced in China and India. “The COVID-19 wave will likely deepen our supply challenges for many drugs.” Salomon called for the relocation of pharmaceutical production to France.
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