Cholargos, 18.11.2025
PRESS RELEASE
EOF participates in the information campaign of the European Medicines Agency1 with a key message:
η Tackling drug shortages requires a team effort.
The campaign aims to highlight the need for a team effort by pharmacists, doctors, patients and competent authorities to ensure the adequacy of medicines.
In recent years, incidents of limited drug availability have become more frequent and complex, due to disruptions in the global supply chain, production issues, pandemics, raw material shortages and unforeseen increases in demand.
This phenomenon puts additional pressure on healthcare systems and their workers: for example, in 2024, community pharmacies in the EU devoted an average of over 10 hours per week to managing shortages, demonstrating the increasing burden on healthcare providers.
Preventing and/or successfully addressing deficiencies is only possible with a team effort. The combined actions of all involved lead to full patient support:
Community pharmacists
- They identify suitable alternatives when a drug is not available.
- They work closely with prescribing physicians to ensure continuity of patient treatment.
The doctors
- They prescribe alternative treatment when necessary.
- They provide medical supervision when a medication change is necessary.
- They communicate with pharmacists to ensure that patients understand the changes.
The patients
- They do not procure more packages of medication than are needed.
- They do not turn to illegal sources of drugs, such as the internet.
- They are informed about the medications they are taking.
- They discuss any concerns they have with their doctor or pharmacist.
Hospital pharmacists
- They manage the supplies of critical drugs used in hospitals.
- They prioritize medications that patients need urgently.
- They support doctors in choosing the safest alternatives.
The EOF & the EMA
- They monitor and record the supply of medicines.
- They work with producers to prevent or resolve shortages.
- They are taking measures to ensure supply.
The campaign was developed jointly with the European Consumer Organisation, the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists, the European Association of Nuclear Medicine, the European Society of Paediatric Neurology, the European Community Pharmacists and the European Association of General Practitioners, and was supported by the EMA's Patients and Consumers Working Group and the Healthcare Professionals Working Group.
INFORMATION & PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
