Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

HEALTH

European paediatricians sound alarm over medicine shortage

Paediatricians from European countries have raised the alarm over a shortage of medicines for children including antibiotics and asthma treatment, warning it was endangering health.

Published: 30 April 2023 11:12 CEST
European paediatricians sound alarm over medicine shortage
This photograph taken on March 23, 2023, shows boxes of amoxicillin on an empty pharmacy shelf in Colomiers, southwestern France. Photo: Valentine CHAPUIS/AFP.

In a letter addressed to health ministers and seen by AFP on Saturday, the doctors stressed it was “urgent to find a fast, reliable and lasting solution” to the problems facing stocks in Europe.

“The health of our children and our youngsters is in danger because of the lack of medicines throughout Europe,” they wrote.

The letter was addressed to the health ministers of Austria, France, Germany, the Italian region of South Tyrol and Switzerland.

It was co-signed notably by Andreas Werner, president of the French Association of Ambulatory Pediatrics, his German counterpart Thomas Fischbach and Laura Reali, head of the European Confederation of Primary Care Paediatricians.

The doctors said it was the responsibility of political decision-makers to guarantee sufficient production and supply to ensure medicines were available for basic paediatric care.

It is crucial to have antibiotics, pain relief, fever and asthma medicines and vaccines available, they said.

Reacting to the letter on Saturday, German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said on Twitter that the concerns were “justified”.

A law aimed at tackling delivery issues is currently before the German parliament, he said.

Over the winter, Europe has seen shortages of the key antibiotic amoxicillin and other medications as surging illnesses particularly among children have increased demand for the drugs.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

HEALTH

Switzerland could vote again on legalising cannabis

Swiss citizens could vote on whether to legalise cannabis after a new citizens' initiative proposed the legalisation, possession, cultivation, and sale of the drug in Switzerland.

Published: 2 May 2024 10:06 CEST
Switzerland could vote again on legalising cannabis

The new initiative was announced by the Federal Chancellery.

The initiative entitled “Legalising cannabis: an opportunity for the economy, health and equality” also calls for revenues from the taxation of cannabis products to be allocated to drug prevention as well as a campaign by the government to highlight the health risks of cannabis.

The organisers have 18 months – until October 2025 – to collect the 100,000 signatures required for a popular initiative to brought to the ballot box on a national level.

Cannabis has been illegal in Switzerland since 1951 and its use has been punishable by law since 1975. But national statistics say there are around 300,000 cannabis users in the country.

The new initiative states: “Legislation regarding the cultivation, possession and personal use of cannabis is the responsibility of the Confederation. Citizens who have reached the age of 18 can cultivate and possess cannabis.”

Cultivation and sale for commercial purposes would be permitted, the initiative states. Farms and points of sale would be subject to licensing and strict quality and safety standards. Individuals would be limited to growing 50 cannabis plants at home.

READ ALSO: What are Switzerland’s current rules on cannabis?

In a previous referendum held on this issue in 2008, 63 percent of voters rejected the legalisation. Since then, however, the tide may have turned, according to a government survey published in 2021.

In the meantime, several Swiss cities — Basel, Zurich, Geneva, Bern, Lausanne, and Lucerne — have launched pilot projects to see what health and social effects the regulated sale of cannabis has on its users, and society in general.

SHOW COMMENTS