Legislation: A bitter pill to swallow

Experts raise concern over possible changes to pharmaceutical legislation to prevent medicine shortages

Since late last year, pharmacies across the EU have been hit by drug shortages, leaving patients struggling to access much-needed medicines. 

The European Medicines Agency said in January that a surge in respiratory infections over the winter had led to a shortfall of the antibiotic amoxicillin, while a survey by the Pharmaceutical Group of the EU found that medicine shortages are on the rise across the continent.