"[T]he importance of information exchange was highlighted by all collaborations." Access to safe, effective, high-quality, and affordable essential medicines is one of the major challenges for health systems in achieving universal health coverage, to which countries have committed as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (target 3.8).
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Drug supply chain vulnerabilities have achieved greater visibility with the COVID-19 pandemic, but they have increasingly plagued countries in the past few years. A survey published in
Health Policy s December issue found that 20 of 24 countries used drug registries to combat them, 20 simplified regulatory procedures during shortages, 18 regularly talked with stakeholders, and 15 had financial sanctions in place for when manufacturers missed notification or supply requirements.
Even with these practices in place, multiple countries expressed an interest in increasing management strategies, and for good reason. Finland, the researchers report, experienced an 18-fold increase in shortages from 2010 to 2018, with instances doubling from 2016 to 2018 alone.