In May 2013, the shortage affected 46% of surveyed users, 100% of pharmacies and 87% of doctors
It has certainly happened to most Portuguese people to reach a pharmacy and not find the necessary medicines. Sometimes pharmacists tell them to come back later. Other times, the answer is simply, "We sold them all!"
According to the report "Profile of Procurement Errors in the National Pharmaceutical Market", commissioned by the Portuguese Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (Apifarma) to Deloitte and published in May last year, the shortage of medicines affected 46% of the surveyed users, 100% of pharmacies and the 87% of doctors. Nervous system medications are missing in 50% cases, according to pharmacies. In second place, drugs for the treatment of the respiratory system (23%). As happened in 2012, unavailability of drugs for chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes (metformin) continues to be reported.
Since July 2013, the National Association of Pharmacies (ANF) has been keeping the situation under control. In March he revealed that - every month - about five million packs are not available in pharmacies. Almost 28% of the drugs available on the market in February have been missing at least once. The National Authority of Medicines and Health Products (Infarmed) found, in that period, that at least three unavailable drugs had no valid therapeutic alternatives.
