NOS News•today, 9:16 PM
There is a serious shortage of salbutamol aerosol in the Netherlands, the most commonly prescribed ‘puff’ for people with asthma. The drug has recently become unavailable or hardly available and, according to the pharmacy organization KNMP, there are hardly any alternatives available. There are more than half a million users in the Netherlands.
The shortages are partly due to production problems at various manufacturers. The hope is that a number of varieties will be available again within a few weeks.
The problem is recognized by the Lung Alliance Netherlands, a partnership of patient associations, pulmonologists and health insurers, among others. Most pharmacies have no more than two weeks’ supply of salbutamol aerosol, the association says.
To deal with the biggest problems, the Healthcare and Youth Inspectorate took a ‘shortage decision’ last week, allowing the inhalant to be imported from other countries. However, it is unclear to what extent this will provide relief.
“That depends on the extent to which they have these resources available abroad,” says a spokesperson for the KNMP pharmacy organization. “We don’t have a good idea of that at the moment.”
Recommendations and alternatives
Because other inhaled medicines are not available or are only available to a limited extent, the Lung Alliance is providing an overview (.pdf) of possible alternatives. For example, patients may start using a powder depending on their age.
The organization advises pharmacists to reserve their scarce aerosols for children under the age of 6. They do not yet have enough inhalation force to use powder inhalers.
More drug shortages
Pharmacists have been struggling with many medicine shortages for some time. Last year, trade organization KNMP registered a record number of 2,292 shortages, it was recently announced. 5 million Dutch people experienced the consequences of such a shortage.
