Medicines: have there been stock shortages in 2024?

An increase in stockouts was observed from 2019, followed by a second wave during 2021-2022, then a third which peaked in the winter of 2022-2023 with around 800 boxes of medicines intended for pharmacies which were simultaneously out of stock. By the end of 2024, they were "about 400" to miss, "a level certainly lower than the peak but still high", underlines this study by the Directorate of Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics (DREES) carried out in collaboration with the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines (ANSM).

Cardiovascular and nervous system drugs and antibiotics

No therapeutic class of drugs was spared from the wave of stockouts that followed 2021, according to this study, which relied on manufacturer reports. However, nearly three-quarters of the stockout reports concerned cardiovascular and nervous system drugs (which include paracetamol), and antibiotics. But "The severity of stockout risks appears to be easing, judging by the level of declared stocks.", note the Drees and the ANSM.

So, at the end of 2024, “Half of the laboratories said they had more than 2 months of reserves compared to 1.3 months at the end of 2022”, according to Gladys Baudet, a data specialist at Drees. Laboratories must inform the ANSM, as soon as they become aware of it, of any risk of stock shortages or any stock shortages relating to a drug of major therapeutic interest (MITM), the category most useful for health.

Read alsoThe blacklist of drugs to avoid in 2025 and alternatives to do without them

Out of stock does not mean shortage

Of the 17,000 drugs marketed in France, 10,000 are MITMs, for which laboratories have been required since 2021 to maintain two months of stock. A stockout is not the same as a shortage. A drug may be out of stock without necessarily being unavailable in pharmacies.

Read alsoWhat is the most prescribed medication in France?

In this case, "The laboratory is unable to replenish its stock, but in most cases, it manages to continue selling part of its production." And "There is no systematic collapse in sales.", observes Clément Dherbécourt, co-author of the study.