Medication Shortage in BiH, Some Will Not Be Available on the Market Until the End of the Year

(Patria) - At the end of last year and the beginning of this year, a shortage of several medications was reported on the market of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while some will not be available until the end of the year, and some have been permanently discontinued.

The reasons for the shortage include, among others, delays in production by manufacturers, problems in the supply chain, the manufacturer's decision not to renew the license, limited production capacities, reorganization of production, and globally disrupted supply chains.

In December 2024 and during this year, a temporary or permanent discontinuation of 33 medications was reported, and the Agency for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices of Bosnia and Herzegovina states that for a large number of medications there are so-called generic parallels, so that if a medication from one manufacturer is missing, a medication with the same active substance, same strength, and pharmaceutical form from another manufacturer is available.

Among others, a shortage of Klavocin bid, Ventolin, Levemir, and Carboplasin has been reported.

Also, there is a shortage of certain medications for treating diabetes, high blood pressure, as well as those used by oncology patients.

Manufacturers are obliged to notify the Agency in case of a disruption in the supply of a medication to the market, and disruptions can be temporary or permanent.

In the case of temporary disruptions, it is necessary to state the expected date of the medication's reappearance on the market. Manufacturers are also obliged to state the reasons for the disruption in the supply of the medication to the market.

When it comes to permanent disruptions reported by manufacturers (revocation of the license and not entering the license renewal process), they occur mainly for commercial reasons, emphasize the Agency for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices of BiH.

Temporary disruptions occur due to problems in the production process itself, then changes in the production process, reorganization of production, problems in the procurement of raw materials, problems in the procurement of packaging materials, globally disrupted supply chains.

- We are in daily communication with manufacturers and wholesalers. Last year, we prevented shortages by significantly improving the dynamics of processing requests for granting/renewing/changing the license for placing quality, effective, and safe medications on the market in BiH, thereby influencing the faster arrival of medication to the patient. Likewise, we approve the trade of medication produced for another market, in accordance with the specification approved by our agency - further explain from the Agency for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

They also say that they still learn about some shortages from patients, healthcare institutions, and in other ways, after which they contact manufacturers to check the availability of medications and see what ways there are to overcome the unavailability of medication to patients.

Incidentally, since 2018, the Agency has had an information system that makes all shortages reported by manufacturers publicly available.

Increased consumption of antibiotics

On the other hand, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the trend of increasing antibiotic consumption continues, and the total turnover of medications is also rising.

- Antibiotic consumption in BiH in 2023 was 24.7 defined daily doses/1000 inhabitants per day (DDD/1000 inhabitants/day) – the units in which medication consumption is expressed - emphasize from the Agency and add that compared to the previous year, antibiotic consumption in BiH is higher and is growing year by year.

At the same time, the total turnover of medications has also increased, which in 2023 amounted to 961,070,902.21 BAM, while in 2022 that amount was 890,880,527.10 BAM.

In the observed period, i.e., data for 2023, citizens spent 130,610,636.90 BAM on over-the-counter medications.