The RS virus combined with this year’s flu season demands a lot from children’s immune systems. No wonder, then, that the need for fever syrups and other medicines has increased rapidly, and parents are looking to pharmacies. What is surprising is the insufficient supply of medicines.
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This wave of infections makes Parsa Marvi, a member of the Bundestag, think back to the first wave of the coronavirus: “At the time, we had nationwide problems in obtaining vaccines, which put us in an emergency. Now there are no antibiotics, syrups for fever and other preparations for children.”
According to the Bundestag member from Karlsruhe, the fact that a wave of infections could become problematic this year is nothing new. However, there are profound reasons why she was able to hook us so hard.
Delivery routes are long, immune systems are weakened
One reason: the corona pandemic. “Avoiding social contacts during the corona pandemic waves was necessary and right. However, this had an impact on the children’s immunity to infections, which now has to be rebuilt,” explains Marvi.
Parsa Marvi, member of the Bundestag in the constituency of Karlsruhe-Stadt. | Image: Parsa Marvi
Additionally, there are delivery issues globally, currently hampering purchases from external suppliers. “Some deliveries have come a long way: they come from China or India. That’s why we have to change our priority when it comes to drug contracts,” said the Bundestag member from Karlsruhe. He himself was able to get an idea of the situation in the pharmacies in Karlsruhe.
“It’s a matter of cost”
Security of supply must come above purchase discounts, says Marvi. “Recently, Federal Minister of Health Lauterbach has already launched or initiated some important health reforms. One of them is a reform that should deal with drug discounts and Germany’s priority in the purchase of drugs.”
“I have to deal with the medical problem we have now”: Karl Lauterbach. | Image: Michael Kappeler/dpa
The problem: Germany buys most of its medicines and depends on reliable deliveries. “Around eighty percent of our pharmaceutical needs are advertised to suppliers across Europe. The supplier with the largest volume discount is then selected. It’s a matter of cost,” explains Marvi.
The Bundestag member wants to move away from this concept in the future. Germany needs to secure itself in the medium term, says Marvi. A shift from the role of buyer to that of producer, at least to a degree that guarantees one’s supply.
Refueling next door
But such changes and reforms take time, so they are unlikely to help those now dependent on drugs. The solution: fast refueling from the neighborhood.
“I was recently in Britain with my family and there don’t seem to be these problems there. So there are opportunities all around us,” says the Bundestag member. “Therefore, I think it would be good to compensate for short-term shortages through an international sourcing program, similar to what was done during the coronavirus pandemic.”
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