Today, the Ardennes would be at “ edge of stock shortage » of Ventolin, this medicine used in particular for fight against asthmaaccording to Fabrice Camaioni, pharmacist in the Ardennes and vice-president of the Federation of Pharmaceutical Unions of France (FSPF).
Increased problem in the Ardennes
A situation which is not unique in France but which certainly affects the Ardennes to a greater extent: in addition to French patients, Belgians also come to get their supplies from the department’s pharmacies, where Ventolin is less expensive than at home.
Asked by The Parisianthe national medicines safety agency (ANSM) confirmed the supply difficulties without mentioning a shortage. Indeed, Ventolin would be available in France but not enough to sufficiently supply pharmacies. Fabrice Camaioni sound the alarm : “ the risk of running dry is significant. We are currently in the process of collecting funds. “.
The allergic risk is today at the highest, reinforcing the need for Ventolin, and will be until July. In the Ardennes, pharmacists contact their wholesalers, in Reims and Charleville-Mézières, and they, for the moment, cannot ensure emergency supplies.
In addition, pharmacists have increased their safety stock, or the minimum threshold from which they trigger an order. At Fabrice Camaoioni in Revin, he went from 10 to 20 “rescue” ventolin aerosols.
In France, around 4 million people suffer from asthma, making Ventolin spray essential for them.*
A second production line as reinforcement
Faced with “strong demand” on a global scale, the GSK laboratory which supplies France with Ventolin from its Eure factory has announced the reinforcement of a second production site in its network, located in Spain.
In France, 4,500 drugs are currently out of stock. which is 10 times more than five to seven years ago », deplores Fabrice Camaïoni. In 2022, pharmacies in the Ardennes had already suffered from shortages of drugs such as paracetamol or amoxicillin.
