National Drug Stockpiles Create ‘False Sense Of Security’

The generics and biosimilars industry body Medicines for Europe says disparate national stockpiling requirements are not a solution to shortages and can bring “significant risks” for the supply chain and access to medicines.

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National stockpiles may not be the answer to drug shortages • Source: Shutterstock

“Stockpiling is not a solution to medicine shortages” and instead is “clearly aimed” at hoarding medicines “at the expense of EU solidarity for patients,” says the generic and biosimilar medicines industry association, Medicines for Europe.

Referring to actions taken by a number of EU member states to introduce their own stockpiling rules, the association says that “extensive, uncoordinated and disproportionate” national requirements have “unintended consequences.”...

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