Stockout of neurological drugs in Colombia

Abstract

Global burden of disease mortality studies establish that neurological diseases are the second leading cause of death worldwide and the leading cause of disability, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), as well as loss of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs).

In general, neurological diseases are chronic and depend on a continuous treatment regimen in order to avoid relapses. Therefore, drug shortages in Colombia, although not a recent phenomenon, have increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic, with direct repercussions on patients and direct costs for the health system. Between August and September 2022, working groups were organized with multiple medical-scientific associations, the National Superintendence of Health and the National Institute of Drug and Food Surveillance (Invima), in which it was revealed that the possible causes of the shortage would be: the increase in demand; restrictions by manufacturers in contracts with health promoting entities (EPS) and health managers; delays in order deliveries; pending procedures at Invima; problems in the acquisition of raw materials and the decrease in the industry's interest in marketing products with low profitability.