Danish Medicines Agency given more powers to counteract supply problems

New rules have come into force, which means that companies, regions and municipalities may be ordered to report their supplies of medicines and medical devices to the Danish Medicines Agency, and that medicines and devices can be reallocated to areas in the healthcare service that need them the most.

The Danish Medicines Agency is working fast with authorities and companies in and outside Denmark to avoid and counteract problems of supplying protective equipment, test kits and medicines caused by the corona pandemic.

The great demand for medical devices such as face masks, visors and the like currently means that several areas of the healthcare sector have reported scarcity.

Activation of the preparedness – supplies, reallocation, price adjustment

The Minister of health has established new rules to ensure the supply. The minister has also decided to activate the entire drug preparedness as part of handling the corona pandemic. This will allow the Danish Medicines Agency, where necessary, to compel companies, regions and municipalities to report their supplies of medicines and medical devices to the Danish Medicines Agency and to increase supplies and reallocate medicines and devices to those areas of the healthcare service that need them the most. The Danish Medicines Agency is also authorised to regulate the prices of medicines and medical devices should it become necessary.

“We have a fantastic collaboration with the companies, the regions and the municipalities in the fight against supply problems, and we will keep on working. The new rules are an approach for all eventualities to ensure that whatever happens, we have the right levers to mitigate the consequences of the corona pandemic for patients, healthcare professionals and others”, said Thomas Senderovitz, Director General of the Danish Medicines Agency.

Read more:

Executive order on medicines drug preparedness in the outbreak of COVID-19 (in Danish only)

Executive order on special measures relating to the supply of medical devices and protective equipment caused by the spread of COVID-19 (in Danish only)