Seminar SPD1: Medicines shortages – A reality check?

Linked to EAHP Statements

Section 2 – Selection, Procurement and Distribution: Statement 2.5

ACPE UAN: 0475-0000-18-013-L04-P. A knowledge based activity.

Abstract

20 years ago, medicines shortages were something we as Europeans didn’t have in mind when discussing problems around hospital pharmacy. But in the last decade it became a daily problem and a real pain in the neck for hospital pharmacists (and even retail pharmacists) around the world. In several countries, special measures were put in place to deal with this problem. But in most countries, nothing was done against the reasons for drug shortages. The speakers of this seminar will give an overview on the impact of drug shortages on patient outcome and the workload for hospital pharmacists due to drug shortages and discuss the different possible actions to deal with or better avoid drug shortages in hospitals.

Learning objectives

After the session, the participant should be able to:

• Name the different reasons for medicines shortages;
• Outline and discuss the measures and actions in place to avoid drug shortages;
• Describe and avoid a negative outcome of drug shortages in hospitals; and,
• Discuss the role of pharmaceutical industry in drug shortages .

Educational need addressed

As almost every pharmacist has to deal with drug shortages on a daily basis it is very important to get a knowledge on how to work in an era of drug shortages. There is therefore an educational need for getting information about the political issues around drug shortages, the influence, interest and strategies of pharmaceutical industry and to set up processes inside hospital pharmacy to prevent negative impact on patient safety.

Keywords: medicines shortage, drug shortage, pharmaceutical industry