Legislation that has just been adopted by the Belgian parliament is aiming to tackle shortages by requiring companies to notify local authorities of supply interruptions within three working days, as well as giving pharmacists the option to substitute equivalent alternatives to products in short supply. The new measures limit the risk of excessive sanctions for suppliers, according to local industry association Medaxes.
Belgium’s parliament has adopted legislation aimed at tackling shortages that will introduce new notification requirements for suppliers and will also allow pharmacists to substitute equivalent alternatives for products in short supply.
Companies will be obliged to notify PharmaStatus – a database run by the Belgian medicines agency AFMPS – of expected...