In order to reduce the impact of drug shortage, the MOHW has established the “Drug Supply Reporting Process Center” to monitor the supply of western medicine, Chinese traditional medicine, hard-to-get medicine/medical device for children, special nutritional products for rare diseases, emergency medicine, public-funded vaccines and medicine for infectious diseases.   Victor Wang, the MOHW Deputy Minister, expressed that, as Chinese medicine is relatively complicated, it requires more work to make the system complete.  The MOHW aims to have the full system up and running by the end of April.  As for western medicine, the MOHW has already informed healthcare providers and pharmacies to comprehensively recheck their inventory and update reports on drug shortages.   The MOHW Minister will hold a press conference on this matter as soon as next week.

According to Victor Wang, the MOHW has upgraded the TFDA’s “Drug Supply Information Platform” to the “Drug Shortage Reporting Process Center”, which is directly under the charge of the MOHW.   The new system will be able to quickly facilitate cross-departmental operations once a drug shortage problem is identified.  For example, the TFDA is not able to take actions if the shortage is caused by drug prices.  With the new system, the NHIA will be involved to sort the problem.  This new system is in fact a platform for coordinate government agencies.

Wang explained that, at present, there are 15 drug items in shortage which have no substitute products.  The MOHW addressed this issue by granting special import and manufacturing right. However, the MOHW needs to further identify whether the shortage in some hospitals is due to uneven distribution.

The new system will be firstly piloted for 2 weeks.  The MOHW has requested hospitals and pharmacies to recheck their inventories and report the latest shortages.   The MOHW will check whether the reports are isolated cases or genuine shortages.  Victor Wang called on the stakeholders to work together to improve the system.

The TFDA also issued an official letter to request drug companies to tighten the monitoring of drug supply by contacting their foreign suppliers at least once a month to confirm the supply quantity and schedule in the nest 6 months.  This request applies to all imported drugs.   For drugs manufactured in Taiwan, drug companies also need to confirm the supply quantity and schedule of all raw materials in the next 6 months.  Drug companies also need to assess the demand and increase imports accordingly and report any concerns of shortage in the next 6 months.

【2023-04-02 / Liberty Times】