Big pharma denies strategic shortages
The pharmaceutical industry has rejected claims from pharmacists in Limburg province that they were deliberately withholding medicines. Last week, about 600 pharmacies across Flanders reported widespread shortages of one particular drug, Miacalcic (salcatoninum), which is used to combat the bone disorder Paget’s Disease. Shortages were also noted for some asthma treatments and two medicines against blood clotting.
According to the pharmacists in Limburg, the problem is caused by a deliberate policy on the part of the drug companies, which give precedence to countries where they earn the most on a particular drug. In Belgium, meanwhile, prices for prescription drugs are determined by law.
The drug industry association Pharma.be called the claim “nonsense” and pointed out that the pharmaceutical industry is obliged by law to ensure a constant supply of drugs barring force majeure such as a recent strike by Glaxo Smith Kline workers in France.
However, drug companies have no control over what happens to their products once they enter the wholesale and retail supply chain, said Pharma.be director Leo Neels. The pharmacists’ claims were “wild accusations without the slightest factual basis,” he said.
