Some antibiotics – those administered by injection or infusion – have been covered by the release of compulsory stocks in force since November 1, 2019. The government is now extending this to tablets and capsules that can be taken from the stocks in large quantities.
Compulsory stocksExternal link are aimed at stockpiling essential goods in case of crisis. With regard to medicines, all companies putting a listed vital drug onto the Swiss market for the first time are bound by law to hold compulsory stocks.
Switzerland has experienced problems with antibiotic supplies in the past, but the situation has worsened in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and then because of an ongoing wave of infections, FONES explained.
In Switzerland the main suppliers of oral antibiotics are sourced from the same European producer. As the producer is facing capacity problems, it is rationing the antibiotics supplied to different countries.
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Faced with shortages, Switzerland plans to boost drug stocks
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Faced with the current shortage of medicines, Bern wants to extend mandatory reserves of drugs and the obligation to declare stocks.
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