Belgian medicine shortages 'complex issue,' say drugmakers

The Belgian pharmaceutical industry has responded to reports of medicine shortages, with local media attributing the blame in some cases to the actions of pharmaceutical companies.

pharma.be, the general association of Belgian drugmakers, said in a statement that while shortages “can be problematic for patients,” pharmaceutical companies “also want their products to always be available when patients need them.”

pharma.be notes that the country was the first in Europe to set up a reporting system to ensure transparency over the causes and the duration of shortages.