The European Parliament event brought together policymakers, pharmacists and stakeholders from across the medicines supply chain to discuss how Europe can strengthen the resilience of its pharmaceutical supply systems. The discussions emphasised the critical role played by community pharmacists in maintaining continuity of care for patients despite ongoing supply disruptions. There is strong alignment between the challenges faced across Europe and those experienced by community pharmacies in Ireland, and it was very valuable to hear perspectives from colleagues across Europe and to see that the challenges Irish pharmacies experience in managing medicine shortages are shared by pharmacists in many other countries. Community pharmacists continue to play a crucial role in maintaining continuity of care for patients, often spending considerable time sourcing alternatives and supporting patients when medicines are unavailable.  

Medicine shortages across Europe

A central feature of the event was the presentation of the PGEU Medicine Shortages Report 2025, which provides an overview of the scale and impact of shortages from the perspective of community pharmacy organisations across Europe.

The report confirms that medicine shortages remain widespread and persistent. According to the findings, 96 per cent of responding countries continue to report shortages, with over 600 medicines currently in shortage in more than one third of countries surveyed. Shortages increasingly affect essential therapies including antibiotics, cardiovascular medicines, oncology treatments, insulins and medicines for the nervous system.

The impact on patients is significant. All responding EU Member States report patient distress and inconvenience, while almost nine in ten countries report treatment interruptions linked to shortages.

Community pharmacies across Europe are increasingly required to manage the practical consequences of these disruptions.

As highlighted in the PGEU press release, “community pharmacies are increasingly acting as shock absorbers within fragile supply chains”.

Pharmacists frequently need to identify alternative medicines, contact prescribers, counsel patients and manage administrative requirements in order to ensure continuity of care.

The time involved is considerable. On average, community pharmacies across Europe now spend around 12 hours per week managing medicine shortages, more than double the time reported five years ago.

Speaking at the launch of the report, PGEU President Mikołaj Konstanty highlighted the systemic nature of the issue, saying; “Medicine shortages have stabilised, but at an unacceptably high level. They are no longer isolated incidents; they are a chronic strain on patients, pharmacists and healthcare systems.”

“ All responding EU Member States report patient distress and inconvenience, while almost nine in ten countries report treatment interruptions linked to shortages.”

 

Discussions on supply chain resilience

The event also included panel discussions examining both the frontline impact of shortages and the broader policy and supply chain challenges involved in ensuring medicine availability across Europe.

One panel focused on the role of pharmacists on the front-line in addressing shortages. Contributions included perspectives from Vanessa Bennett, Senior Shortages Specialist at the European Medicines Agency (EMA), who discussed the regulatory and monitoring role of the EMA in coordinating responses to medicine shortages across EU Member States. The discussion also included contributions from Manuel Ibarra Lorente of the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) and Koen Straetmans, President of the Association of Pharmacists Belgium (APB), reflecting on both regulatory oversight and the practical realities faced by pharmacists managing shortages in daily practice.

A second panel examined how the resilience of Europe’s medicines supply chain can be strengthened. Speakers included representatives from the European Commission (DG SANTE), the European Court of Auditors, Medicines for Europe, and the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC). The discussion highlighted the need for stronger supply chain monitoring, improved transparency, and coordinated European policy measures to address structural vulnerabilities in pharmaceutical supply.

Accessing the Report

The PGEU Medicine Shortages Report 2025 provides a detailed analysis of the scale, causes and consequences of shortages across Europe and outlines policy recommendations aimed at strengthening the resilience of the medicines supply chain. Members can access the full report on the PGEU website at pgeu.eu.  

Monitoring medicine shortages in Ireland

At national level, the IPU continues to monitor the impact of medicine shortages through its annual Medicine Shortages Survey, which gathers feedback directly from community pharmacies across Ireland. This year, the IPU is working in collaboration with researchers at University College Cork to develop a revised survey designed to capture more detailed insights into the operational and patient impacts of shortages in Irish community pharmacy practice. The survey will be circulated to IPU members in the coming months. Subject to the appropriate approvals, the findings from this research are intended to contribute to a peer-reviewed publication, helping to ensure that the experiences of Irish community pharmacies inform the wider international evidence base on medicine shortages.  

Have you seen the IPU Medicine Shortages Chatbot?

A new IPU Chatbot is now available on the Medicine Shortages Update page. The chatbot allows users to quickly find information about specific medicines, including:

• Whether a product is currently in short supply;
• Expected restock timelines;
• Reasons for shortages; and
• The availability of alternative strengths.

If your question is not answered automatically, the chatbot can connect you directly with a member of the IPU Product File Team for further assistance, ensuring you receive accurate and timely information. Visit the ipu.ie/shortages today to try out the new chatbot and get instant support with your queries.