Access to Medicine Availability Improves Pharmacy Management
This new feature is part of a broader set of measures aimed at mitigating the impact of medicine shortages on people’s health and on pharmacy operations.
By Ana Rita Cunha
Pharmacies can now access real-time information on the availability of medicines.
The new feature, which came into effect on 16 June, is based on data provided by wholesalers at the time of ordering. This information is now directly integrated into pharmacy software systems, allowing pharmacists to see whether a medicine is marked as “available”, “limited quantity”, “out of stock until a specific date”, “out of stock”, “not marketed”, or “withdrawn”.
“This is one of several measures designed to mitigate the impact that medicine shortages have on people’s health and the continuity of treatment,” said Ema Paulino, President of ANF.
By improving timely access to information on medicine availability, the measure enhances stock management and day-to-day pharmacy operations. “The Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU) estimates that pharmacists spend 11 hours per week searching for alternatives for patients. In this context, the measure will increase pharmacy efficiency,” she noted.
According to Ema Paulino, the benefits also extend to doctors, as real-time access to medicine availability will help “reduce the pressure to prescribe alternatives when medicines are not available through regular distribution channels.”
The new feature is the result of collaboration between ANF, INFARMED, and the Association of Pharmaceutical Distributors (ADIFA).
About the autor