MEDICINE According to health authorities, this shortage is due to an increase in demand after several years marked by the Covid crisis
French Health Minister Francois Braun waves as he leaves after the weekly cabinet meeting at The Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris on November 2, 2022. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON/AFP) — AFP
The shortage of paracetamol in pharmacies will be resolved “in the coming weeks” and that of the antibiotic amoxicillin will be “in the weeks, months to come,” Health Minister François Braun on Sunday.
“We have tensions over our drug stocks, it’s a reality;” recognized the minister, questioned; during the show “Le Grand jury” RTL-Le Figaro-LCI.
According to him, with regard to paracetamol, “in the coming weeks we will have settled the problem. this problem, with stocks that will have returned to normal. normal level.
Industry-wide engagement
He listed the actions taken to remedy the this shortage: “Pharmacists have limited the number of boxes [sold per person] – since it’s a product that can be donated; without a prescription –, we arrested manufacturers in the sector to increase the production lines, which work seven days a week and 24 hours a day”.
For amoxicillin, the main antibiotic prescribed to children in France to fight against a series of bacterial infections such as certain ear infections and pneumonia, François Braun agreed that a return to normal normal was “hard to get. say,” and then clarified: “in the coming weeks, months”.
“We have remobilised; industry-wide, we prohibit the resale of amoxicillin” to “from other countries” “I have authorized pharmacists to unpacking,” he also said.
Authorities have also called physicians and patients to only use these antibiotics if necessary.
On Friday, the National Security Agency medicine (ANSM) had mentioned a situation of “high supply tensions” which could last until March.
“The issue, which is major, is that these are not drugs that are produced in France,” ; François Braun, emphasizing that the “France 2030” of the government aimed to “Repatriate all these industries that produce these essential drugs to France, to Europe to ensure our sovereignty; ».
According to the health authorities, this shortage is due to an increase in demand after several years marked by the Covid crisis and multiple health restrictions which had reduced the spread of certain diseases.