The MOHW established the "Drug Supply Reporting Process Center" to address the global drug shortage crisis. The center started operating on the 11th, but primary care doctors and pharmacists have pointed out that the crisis is not solely caused by drug shortages, but also by drug prices. It is worth noting that hospitals and pharmacies at different levels are experiencing varying degrees of shortages. Therefore, the authority should firstly clarify the underlying issues.
Hsueh Jui-Yuan, the MOHW Minister, announced the inauguration of the “Drug Supply Reporting Process Center” on the 11th 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.
Lin Ying-Ran, the President of the Primary Care Association, said that the current problem is that primary care clinics and pharmacies have to source from various channels in order to fill their stock as each supplier can only provide a limited quantity of products. “The situation is a comparative shortage as there are alternatives for most drugs,” added Lin.
Lin Ying-Ran pointed out that drug companies always serve hospitals first because of the contract between them. For primary care clinics and community pharmacies that usually order on demand, and the supply is not always guaranteed. The impact of the priority supply system can only be revealed in a drug shortage crisis.
Lin said frankly that low drug prices also contribute to the shortage crisis because manufacturers have no incentive to produce.
The head of the NHIA, Shih Chung-Liang, expressed that the NHIA will adjust drug prices according to the situation. Lin Ying-Ran welcomed the NHIA’s gesture and its guarantee of a floor price. However, the fundamental problem rests in the NHI global budget system. If the government fails to allocate more resources to healthcare, the public can only access limited healthcare services.
Wu Hsiu-Mei, the Director of the TFDA, said that the TFDA will request drug companies to adequately distribute the products so that healthcare providers of all levels can have equal access to drugs.
Huang Chin-Shun, the President of the Federation of Taiwan Pharmacists Associations, acknowledged the effects of the government’s intervention and coordination. At the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, hospitals were hoarding drugs for that unprecedented crisis, and as one hospital started to increase stock level, it had a crowding out effect. The government’s timely intervention rightly averted a disruption of the supply chain, said Huang.
Huang also expressed that big hospitals and district hospitals usually have a supply contract directly with drug companies, whereas primary care clinics and community pharmacies usually rely on wholesalers for their inventory. The quantity available for distribution varies according to the supply channels. Wholesalers may tend to reduce supply if their profit margins are squeezed, leading to further shortages. Therefore, the government should investigate and address the underlying issues to ensure fair access to drugs across all healthcare providers.
【2023-04-11 / CNA News】
