Medicine shortage

Another box

You may have experienced it: we are facing major medicine shortages in the Netherlands. And that can lead to unpleasant situations. Sometimes a drug is not available and sometimes you get a different box for that reason. We explain how that comes about.

The cause of these drug shortages?

It is difficult to pinpoint a specific cause. A combination of factors is causing increasing drug shortages in the Netherlands. Drug shortages occur all over the world. Yet in recent years we have seen a large increase in the number of drugs that are not available in the Netherlands. As global drug production has shifted to India, there is a great dependence on only a few global producers. If production there suddenly comes to a halt, we eventually notice it in the Netherlands as well. In the Netherlands, we have low drug prices. This means that our country is not always attractive to the pharmaceutical industry for drug sales. Other countries take precedence in supply.

Learn more about the backgrounds of drug shortages? Click here.

What can you expect from your pharmacy?

The pharmacy deals with drug shortages on a daily basis. Nevertheless, we make every effort to offer you a suitable alternative in the event of a shortage. If the medicine you are taking is suddenly no longer available, there are a number of options:

1. You will get a medicine with the same active ingredient and strength, if available.
2. If there is no alternative available, we will consult with your doctor. We discuss this with you. So you don't have to do anything.