All efforts taken to minimise supply disruption of medicines and medical devices
Authorities and companies in Denmark and abroad are collaborating intensively to minimise potential disruptions in the supply chain of medicines and medical devices caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.
In the past couple of days, concerns have been raised about the potential problems of supplying certain protective equipment such as masks and diagnostic equipment in individual departments at local hospitals in Denmark.
The Danish Medicines Agency is collaborating with the regions, municipalities and other relevant participants to avoid supply problems and to ensure that the challenges do not grow bigger with practical implications for patients. So far, the overall health sector is not challenged.
Situation under control
“Together with the Danish Health Authority, the regions and municipalities, etc., we have taken all efforts to minimise the potential disruptions in the supply chain of both medicines and medical devices, and we presently have the situation under control. However, I cannot exclude that the situation will have greater consequences for the long-term supply since it is a global problem, but we are working very, very hard to avoid it,” said Thomas Senderovitz, Director General of the Danish Medicines Agency.
Given the extraordinary situation, the Danish Medicines Agency has spent a long time mapping out the supply situation in Denmark. It is in close dialogue with the regions, municipalities, companies, wholesalers and other key participants to keep on top of the situation and get the best possible overview to be able to act if supply problems threatening the Danish health sector should develop.
International efforts have also been deployed to maintain the supply of medicines and medical devices, and an EU Executive Steering Group on shortages of medicines caused by major events has just been established. It is right now focusing on the COVID-19 outbreak and the potential supply difficulties that it could lead to in the worst-case scenario.