Why Europe’s Drug Shortages May Get Worse

February 8, 2023

Reuters recently published an article featuring Rena Conti, Dean’s Research Scholar, discussing the worsening drug shortages in Europe.

While many countries around the world have reported shortages of antibiotics as respiratory infections return with vengeance after lifting pandemic restrictions, the problem in Europe is particularly acute. Many European drugmakers are reluctant to expand such capacity at a time when the Ukraine war has pushed up the cost of everything from energy for factories to aluminum for bottle caps – suggesting more shortages are on the table. According to 13 European manufacturers and six generic drug industry associates, many firms are struggling to make enough money to justify making antibiotics at all, let alone increase production. Conti states,

“There’s a growing awareness that we may have to pay more to ensure our supplies of these medicines is secure and not dependent on other regions, for our own health and national security”.