Urgent| The Medicines Authority announces efforts to provide shortages of strategic medicines… and confirms: The stock is safe

In the past few days, reports have circulated indicating a severe shortage in a number of strategic medicines, which are of utmost importance to patients with cancer, diabetes, and chronic diseases.

The Medicines Authority has prepared an integrated control plan to achieve sustainable drug security, through a strategy to follow the market and ensure a rapid response to any shortage.

The Medicines Authority said that reports had indicated that 13 of these medicines had a strategic stock of less than 6 months, which necessitated the Authority’s intervention in taking action. Urgently, in coordination with various responsible authorities, to ensure the provision of necessary medicines to patients, and to control the stability of the market and the availability of medicines.

​Preparations for chronic diseases

​4 pharmaceutical classes have emerged at the forefront of interest, which are used to treat tumors, and all of these preparations are currently available and their stock is strategically insured, exceeding the next 6 months.

They include the following:

​Treatment of colorectal tumors / Trifluridine/ Tipiracil: 

This medicine is witnessing declines in availability in international markets, and the Authority has manufactured additional quantities of it, ensuring the availability of sufficient stock for patients and providing it strategically.

​Oncology treatment / Cisplatin: 

The shortage of the product has shown that there are effective alternatives available in international markets. The Authority has coordinated to provide the required quantities with sufficient stock.

​Nausea treatment/ Aprepitant: 

This medicine is one of the most important medicines that support the treatment of tumors, and the Authority has coordinated with manufacturers, to provide the required quantities with sufficient stock.

​Treatment of lung tumors / Pemetrexed:

 An important medicine used for patients with lung tumors, and the Authority has intensified efforts and coordination to ensure availability in the markets.

​Treatment of breast and ovarian tumors / Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin:

 The quantities of the product have been enhanced, with what is being traded in international markets, and the Authority has placed the strategic stock for patients without any impact.

​Hormones and endocrine glands (Tibolone): 

A shipment is being released with a quantity sufficient for the coming months, and coordination has been made to secure the supply of additional quantities from a reliable source, to ensure market stability.

​Pulmonary hypertension treatment (Exenatide). alfa):

 This product is characterized by the availability of effective therapeutic alternatives. Coordination has been made to provide additional quantities of it and pump them into the markets to ensure market stability.

​Treatment of chronic blood diseases (Hydroxyurea):

 It has been confirmed that sufficient quantities of it are available in the markets. Coordination has been made to ensure the flow of supplies to ensure market stability.

​Treatment of heart muscle disorders. (Digoxin-Himalaya):

 It has been confirmed that sufficient quantities of it are available in the markets, and coordination has been made to ensure the flow of supplies to ensure market stability.

​Medicines for chronic and psychiatric diseases: 

A large number of psychiatric medications are available in the markets, but there is a scarcity of some types that require additional measures to secure them.

​Treatment of seizures and nervous spasms (Quetiapine / Levetiracetam: 

Preparations available on the market. Coordination has been made to ensure the flow of supplies and the availability of sufficient stock.

​Diabetes treatment (Dapagliflozin / Metformin):

 The preparation is available on the market. Coordination has been made to ensure the flow of supplies and the availability of sufficient stock.

The Medicines Authority said that all of these preparations that are circulating in the markets are vital medicines for chronic diseases, and all of them are currently available and their stock is strategically insured, beyond the next 6 months as a minimum. 

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