Stock Shortages Intensify: Over a 100 Medications Unavailable

A significant stock shortage has left more than a hundred vital medications missing from private pharmacies across the nation. This troubling situation spans a wide range of medical conditions, including cardiology, hypertension, diabetes, neurological and psychiatric issues, gastroenterology, gynaecology, dermatology, rheumatology, and ophthalmology.

While generic alternatives are available for most categories, Siddique Khodabocus, representing the Association of Small and Medium Pharmaceutical Importers, contended that parallel importation could be a crucial remedy for these shortages and help considerably reduce medication prices.

“Parallel importation has the potential to cut costs by 30 to 40%,” Khodabocus emphasised, urging patients to have confidence in generic medications, asserting that they are just as effective and more affordable than their branded counterparts.

“Patients need to move beyond their attachment to brand-name drugs,” he stressed.

However, as these persistent shortages cause distress for patients, Khodabocus underscored the need for parallel importation.

This practice could broaden the choices available to consumers and cater to those who favour specific brand-name medications.

Numerous essential products currently lack generic alternatives and have disappeared from the market.

Despite being referenced in the government’s electoral manifesto, Khodabocus suggested that some lobbying groups may be obstructing the rollout of parallel importation.

“The arguments against parallel importation simply do not hold up,” he argued, calling for the establishment of a pharmaceutical analysis laboratory in Mauritius to guarantee the quality of imported products.

He insisted that quality control must be universally applicable, regardless of whether medications arrive through conventional or parallel channels.

“The same standards of quality and traceability should apply,” he insisted.

Meanwhile, Minister of Commerce Michaël Sik Yuen highlighted the complexities, noting that the matter involves multiple government departments—health for quality assurance, commerce for price regulation, and foreign affairs for international agreements.

“This process could extend beyond six months,” he warned, reflecting the multifaceted challenges at hand.

Parallel importation could also prove crucial in tackling exorbitant pricing.

“The regressive mark-up strategy has failed, but parallel importation could effectively lower some prices by 30 to 40%,” Khodabocus argued, advocating for open dialogue among all stakeholders, irrespective of their views on the measure.

In light of the current shortage of dollars in the Mauritian market, Sik Yuen has encouraged importers to negotiate with their suppliers to settle invoices in the local currency of the country of origin.

He believed that such adjustments could help mitigate the ongoing monetary crisis.

The ministry is also in the process of reviewing pricing for medical equipment to improve accessibility.

“We are examining profit margins first before implementing any measures,” Sik Yuen revealed.

This review covers vital medical equipment such as wheelchairs, hospital beds, and mobility aids.

The regulation of medical equipment imports remained minimal, as Sik Yuen noted.

“Although there is no VAT on these products, profit margins can reach as high as 100%,” he added, underscoring the urgent need for price regulation to enhance access to these essential devices.

Reflecting on the past, Khodabocus recalled that parallel importation of medications was once commonplace.

“There’s no valid reason not to reinstate it, especially for items currently unavailable,” he argued.

Some patients are already sourcing their treatments from Réunion, occasionally with approval from authorities, which Khodabocus considered as a form of parallel importation.

“There’s nothing stopping the importation of products already available in Mauritius,” he asserted, advocating for the legalisation of this process.

Source: Defi Media