Chemists in Malaga experience drug shortages

shutterstock.com

CHEMISTS in Malaga are running out of medicines used to treat high blood pressure and diabetes.

The pharmaceutical laboratories awarded the production contracts are not managing to distribute these medicines to the chemists in the quantities they need, and not notifying the relevant authorities for fear of being penalised or losing the contract.

Under Spanish law, chemists have to prescribe different medication with the same active drugs to patients before claiming the costs back from the government. Sometimes, however, the administration can refuse to reimburse chemists for the drug if it does not appear on the list of medication stipulated in the contract.  

Therefore through no fault of their own, the chemists are losing money whenever they run out of a specific drug.

Specifically, a drug prescribed against heart problems, Vernies, and the antidepressant Seroxat are in short supply in Malaga at the moment.

The Ministry of Health have said that there are measures in place to make sure that substitute drugs are supplied if there are shortages, and that failure to supply the drugs on the part of the producers is inexcusable.

Author badge placeholder
Written by

Euro Weekly News Media

Share your story with us by emailing newsdesk@euroweeklynews.com, by calling +34 951 38 61 61 or by messaging our Facebook page www.facebook.com/EuroWeeklyNews

Comments