Pharmawatch System Launched As 3 Major Nations Face Global Medicine Shortages

A new monitoring system dubbed ‘Pharmawatch’ is being developed to combat persistent medicine shortages that continue to cause significant anxiety for patients and pharmacists alike. The Pharmacy Council is currently working on the initiative, according to Siddick Khodaboccus.

The tool is designed to track drug availability in real-time, allowing authorities to anticipate supply gaps and mitigate the impact of shortages on the general public.

Global supply chain crisis

The move comes as wholesalers report that the crisis remains rooted at the source of production.

Essential medicines are frequently arriving in reduced quantities, making it impossible to maintain regular stock levels in local dispensaries.

This volatility is part of a broader international trend. While manufacturing nations remain relatively stable, shortages are now a reality across the globe, including in:

• The United Kingdom and wider Europe
• The United States
• Canada

Root causes identified

A report by the European Court of Auditors has highlighted several structural failures contributing to the “critical” lack of supplies.

Chief among these is the limited number of manufacturers and the large-scale relocation of production to low-cost labour markets such as China, India, and Pakistan.

Furthermore, the industry is grappling with internal technical hurdles, including:

• Manufacturing quality defects
• Technical incidents on production lines
• Sudden interruptions in the supply chain

Geopolitical and economic pressure

The situation has been exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine and skyrocketing energy costs.

These factors have directly impacted the production of chemical additives and pharmaceutical packaging, further weakening a global supply chain already under immense strain.

By implementing Pharmawatch, the industry aims to create a roadmap toward better protection and stability for patients during these uncertain economic times.

Source: l’Express