Results of EAHP’s 2018 Survey on Medicines Shortages

Abstract

Aims and objectivesThe aim of the 2018 EAHP Survey on Medicines Shortages was to provide a clearer picture on the issue of medicines shortages, including the impact on hospital pharmacists’ time, budgets and the effect on patient care.MethodsA survey was conducted by the EAHP, collecting information from European hospital pharmacists on the shortage situation in their respective countries. The survey ran from 19 March 2018 to 11 June 2018. Keele University, UK analysed and compared the results to those of the 2014 survey.ResultsThere were 1666 responses to the 2018 survey, which represented a threefold increase from the 2014 survey which received 607 responses. Ninety per cent of respondents answered ‘Yes’ when asked if shortages of medicines are a current problem in delivering the best care to patients, while only 7% of respondents answered ‘No’, and 3% ’Unsure'.Problems with shortages of antimicrobials were most commonly reported (77% of respondents reporting this as an issue in 2018 vs 57% in 2014), followed by preventative medicines (43% in 2018 vs 20% in 2014) and anaesthetics (39% in 2018 vs 27% in 2014). Fifty-nine per cent of respondents have seen care delayed as a consequence of medication shortages, with cancellations of care (31% of respondents), medication errors (25% of respondents) and suboptimal treatment for patients (25% of respondents) also being frequently reported.Sixty-three per cent of respondents reported having had to pay a higher price to procure from alternate sources most of the time or always when there was a shortage of a medicine.ConclusionsMedicines shortages is an increasing problem across Europe and is having an adverse impact on patient care. Medicines shortages are adding to hospital pharmacists’ time pressures and have an adverse budgetary impact. More timely information about impending shortages and how long they will last is seen as necessary to help manage the problem.

Prospective Risk Assessment of Medicine Shortages in Europe and Israel: Findings and Implications

“…The survey results demonstrate wide variation concerning the time needed to manage a shortage via risk assessment, stretching from 1 to 20 h per week. The literature confirms this variation in Europe (Caulder et al, 2015;Pauwels et al, 2015;Miljkovic et al, 2019). Developing tailor-made measures to mitigate shortages does remain a challenge due to time concerns among some participants.…”

“…Shortages of medicines have been on the rise globally this century (Gray and Manasse, 2012; American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 2014; The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia, 2017; Root, 2018;Miljkovic et al, 2019;Videau et al, 2019). Due to their multifaceted nature, there are currently over 26 definitions of medicine shortages from manufacturers, wholesalers, regulators, and healthcare providers (De Weerdt et al, 2015;Fox and McLaughlin, 2018).…”

Risks in Antibiotic Substitution Following Medicine Shortage: A Health-Care Failure Mode and Effect Analysis of Six European Hospitals

“…Medicine shortages are an everyday occurrence, causing great risk to the continuity of patient care (1,2). Following medicine shortages, providing a suitable, clinically appropriate and safe alternative medicine to a patient is a priority to every health-care professional (3,4).…”

Factors Contributing to Delayed Health Seeking Behaviours Among Adolescents

“…Shortages of medicines have been identified as another factor affecting health-seeking behaviours amongst adolescents. The results are kind of, as the study conducted within the European hospitals wherever ninety percent of respondents indicated that shortages of medicines are a current drawback in delivering the most effective care to patients (Miljković, Gibbons, Batista, Fitzpatrick, Underhill, & Horák, 2019). Shortage of supplies and medicines in Uganda found to be a factor affecting compliance and health-seeking behaviour in hypertensive patients as mentioned by (Musinguzi et al, 2018).…”