On 25 May 2018, the Commission held a meeting with experts from EU countries to discuss shortages of medicines. Shortages occur when supply cannot meet the demand for a specific medicinal product at national level. This serious problem affects many patients across the EU and represents a threat to the wellbeing of all citizens.

The meeting was a response to the calls from the Council and European Parliament for the Commission to monitor the obligation of marketing authorisation holders to ensure continuous supply of medicines laid down in EU legislation. A summary of Member States measures to ensure continuous supply and a paper on the obligation of continuous supply to tackle shortages were agreed at the meeting.

• Agenda
• Summary record

Documents

• Summary of responses on Member State measures under Article 81 of Directive 2001/83/EC

• Paper on the obligation of continuous supply to tackle the problem of shortages of medicines (available in all EU languages)

Presentations

• Presentation of the Summary report