Medicines that are not available and have run out of manufacturers are a problem that is becoming more common in Sweden. So also in Västra Götaland County. Here, there has been an increase over several years, but especially a large one from the turn of the year.

- It has become extreme over the past six months, which is a dramatic increase, Katja Heikkinen, assortment manager and pharmacist at the Hospital Pharmacy. It is the part of the region that handles questions about residual drugs.

"Can be vital"

The region has doubled the number of residual drugs between May last year and May this year. The basic range of medicines in Västra Götaland consists of 3000 articles which the Hospital Pharmacy is responsible for monitoring, 210 of which are not obtainable.

- I would describe it as having daily problems with medicines being unavailable. Often we find alternative solutions, but not always, when we do not, it is problematic. It can be more or less vital, ”says Marie Claesson Rasmuson, director of the Hospital Pharmacy Västra Götaland region.

Drug shortages require considerable resources

The lack of medicines affects the region's work and swallows resources.

- The hospital pharmacy has a group that works daily to look for alternatives to medicines that are not available. That load is gradually increasing. It requires more and more resources.

The problem does not only apply to the Västra Götaland region, but is a problem throughout Sweden and also globally, says Marie Claesson Rasmuson. It can cause major problems in the future.

- It is a serious problem when you do not have the medicines you want to be able to treat your patients in the best way. When it comes to those who are of an acute vital nature, there is a risk that patients will die.