Skip to main content
Top
Published in: International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy 4/2019

Open Access 01-08-2019 | Care | Commentary

A regulatory perspective on the availability of medicines and medicine shortages in outpatient care: case Finland

Authors: Kati Sarnola, Johanna Linnolahti

Published in: International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy | Issue 4/2019

Login to get access

Abstract

The good availability of medicines and medicine shortages have become global issues during recent years. Medicine shortages are often affected by universal determinants, but the availability of medicines is also depending on national characteristics. This commentary aims to discuss the issue of the availability of medicines and medicine shortages in outpatient care in Finland, taking in consideration both national characteristics and global determinants that effect on the availability of medicines in other countries but Finland also. In this commentary, a regulatory approach is applied.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Besancon L, Chaar B. Report of the international summit on medicines shortage 2013. Final report. Toronto (CA): International Pharmaceutical Federation; 2013; 24p. Besancon L, Chaar B. Report of the international summit on medicines shortage 2013. Final report. Toronto (CA): International Pharmaceutical Federation; 2013; 24p.
2.
go back to reference Heiskanen K, Ahonen R, Karttunen P, Kanerva R, Timonen J. Medicine shortages—a study of community pharmacies in Finland. Health Policy. 2015;119(2):232–8.CrossRefPubMed Heiskanen K, Ahonen R, Karttunen P, Kanerva R, Timonen J. Medicine shortages—a study of community pharmacies in Finland. Health Policy. 2015;119(2):232–8.CrossRefPubMed
3.
go back to reference European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations. The Pharmaceutical industry figures - Key Data 2018. Final Report. Brussels (BE): European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations 2018; 28p. European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations. The Pharmaceutical industry figures - Key Data 2018. Final Report. Brussels (BE): European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations 2018; 28p.
4.
go back to reference Heiskanen K, Ahonen R, Kanerva R, Karttunen P, Timonen J. The reasons behind medicine shortages from the perspective of pharmaceutical companies and pharmaceutical wholesalers in Finland. PLoS ONE. 2017;12(6):e0179479.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Heiskanen K, Ahonen R, Kanerva R, Karttunen P, Timonen J. The reasons behind medicine shortages from the perspective of pharmaceutical companies and pharmaceutical wholesalers in Finland. PLoS ONE. 2017;12(6):e0179479.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
5.
go back to reference Canadian Pharmacists Association. Canadian drug shortages survey. Final Report; 2010. Canadian Pharmacists Association. Canadian drug shortages survey. Final Report; 2010.
6.
go back to reference Pelkonen E. Ajankohtaista Suomen lääkejakelusta. [Current topics in Finnish pharmaceutical distribution]. In: Hanhela. Lääkkeistä terveyttä? Helsinki: Lääketietokeskus; 2010. p. 28–30. Pelkonen E. Ajankohtaista Suomen lääkejakelusta. [Current topics in Finnish pharmaceutical distribution]. In: Hanhela. Lääkkeistä terveyttä? Helsinki: Lääketietokeskus; 2010. p. 28–30.
12.
go back to reference Hakkarainen KM, Kivioja A, Saastamoinen LK. Drug prices in Finland. In: Babar Z-U-D, editor. Pharmaceutical prices in the 21st century. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2015. p. 93–112. Hakkarainen KM, Kivioja A, Saastamoinen LK. Drug prices in Finland. In: Babar Z-U-D, editor. Pharmaceutical prices in the 21st century. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2015. p. 93–112.
15.
go back to reference Morrison A. Drug supply disruptions [environmental scan issue 17]. Final Report. Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health; 2011. Morrison A. Drug supply disruptions [environmental scan issue 17]. Final Report. Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health; 2011.
16.
go back to reference Panteli D, Arickx F, Cleemput I, Dedet G, Eckhardt H, Fogarty E, et al. Pharmaceutical regulation in 15 European countries review. Health Syst Transit. 2016;18(5):1–122.PubMed Panteli D, Arickx F, Cleemput I, Dedet G, Eckhardt H, Fogarty E, et al. Pharmaceutical regulation in 15 European countries review. Health Syst Transit. 2016;18(5):1–122.PubMed
20.
go back to reference European Commission and European Medicines Agency. Questions and answers related to the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union with regard to the medicinal products for human and veterinary use within the framework of the Centralised Procedure. Rev 04, 1 February 2019. European Commission and European Medicines Agency. Questions and answers related to the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union with regard to the medicinal products for human and veterinary use within the framework of the Centralised Procedure. Rev 04, 1 February 2019.
23.
go back to reference Gamble C, Dudley L, Allam A, Bell P, Goodrare H, Hanley B, et al. Patient and public involvement in the early stages of clinical trial development: a systematic cohort investigation. BMJ Open. 2014;4(7):e005234.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Gamble C, Dudley L, Allam A, Bell P, Goodrare H, Hanley B, et al. Patient and public involvement in the early stages of clinical trial development: a systematic cohort investigation. BMJ Open. 2014;4(7):e005234.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
24.
go back to reference Sharma AE, Willard-Grace R, Willis A, Zieve O, Dubé K, Parker C, et al. How can we talk about patient-centered care without patients at the table? Lessons learned from patient advisory councils. J Am Board Fam Med. 2016;29(6):775–84.CrossRefPubMed Sharma AE, Willard-Grace R, Willis A, Zieve O, Dubé K, Parker C, et al. How can we talk about patient-centered care without patients at the table? Lessons learned from patient advisory councils. J Am Board Fam Med. 2016;29(6):775–84.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
A regulatory perspective on the availability of medicines and medicine shortages in outpatient care: case Finland
Authors
Kati Sarnola
Johanna Linnolahti
Publication date
01-08-2019
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Keyword
Care
Published in
International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy / Issue 4/2019
Print ISSN: 2210-7703
Electronic ISSN: 2210-7711
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-019-00850-2

Other articles of this Issue 4/2019

International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy 4/2019 Go to the issue