Stepping up action to prevent shortages of medicines in Europe

Following recent shortages of critical medicine like certain antibiotics last winter, steps have been taken to prevent such shortages occurring in the EU this winter. The European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority and the European Medicines Agency have prepared a list of key antibiotics that could face critical shortages during the winter. The Commission has also launched a European Voluntary Solidarity Mechanism for medicines, whereby if there is a Member State’s needs for a given medicine, other EU countries can redistribute such medicines from their stocks.

Further actions to prevent medicines’ shortages will be taken in the upcoming weeks and months, such as:

• establishing an EU list of critical medicines
• setting up joint action to allow rule exemptions so medicines can reach patients
• EU guidance on procurement to improve security of supply
• EU joint procurement of antibiotics and treatments for respiratory viruses for next winter

The Commission also plans to take measures to diversify supply and modernise the production of critical medicines. For this, a Critical Medicines Alliance will be set up in early 2024. This will bring together national and EU authorities, industry and civil society to coordinate action at EU level to address supply chain vulnerabilities. Beyond the EU, the Commission wants to establish a network of international partners to address supply chain resilience and set up strategic partnerships for the production of critical medicines.

For more information

Reform of the EU pharmaceutical legislation

Factsheet on the actions to prevent shortages of medicines

Press release: Commission steps up actions to address critical shortages of medicines and strengthen security of supply in the EU

Questions and answers on the actions to prevent shortages of medicines