The epidemic caused by the coronavirus can potentially lead to problems of supply of medicines in Europe because a "large part" of "active pharmaceutical ingredients" is manufactured in Asia, warned the French Academy of Pharmacy. The "Covid-19" epidemic in China could pose a serious threat to public health in France and in Europe, since 80% of the active pharmaceutical ingredients used in Europe are manufactured outside the European economic area , much of it in Asia, "she said.
"We must relocate the production of pharmaceutical raw materials", argues the Academy of Pharmacy, according to which "mastery of the manufacture of raw materials for pharmaceutical use has become a national and European strategic issue". "Due to the multiplicity of links in the production chain, a natural or health disaster, a geopolitical event or an industrial accident is enough to cause supply disruptions that could lead to patients being deprived of their treatments, "recalls the Academy.
"The situation in China is leading to extremely strong containment measures"
"We do not have a priori an alarm signal on a collapse of production but we are very attentive", commented for his part the n ° 2 of the French Ministry of Health, Jérôme Salomon, Wednesday evening during a press conference on the evolution of the situation linked to the coronavirus in France.
"The situation in China is leading to extremely strong containment measures, with a reduction in activity which affects all sectors. We are attentive at world and European level to the consequences that these reductions in activity have on world trade , including this important health products sector, "he added.