Overview

• Shortages affect standard antibiotics, common and stronger painkillers, ADHD medications, basic insulin, blood-pressure drugs and cholesterol-lowering treatments, according to the state association.
• Pharmacies report having to delay or turn away customers, which can push patients back to doctors or hospital emergency departments.
• People on long-term therapy are urged to request prescriptions one to two weeks in advance and to get flu shots in good time ahead of the season.
• The Hessian pharmacists’ association seeks an end to strict price dictates in rebate contracts and greater professional leeway for pharmacists in medication handling.
• National pharmacy leaders describe a similar picture across Germany, with more than 500 medicines officially listed as hard to obtain and some categorized as supply shortages.