Medicine Shortages in Cyprus: Perceptions on Causes and Ways of Supply Chain Management

Abstract

Drug shortages are a global phenomenon which over the last decade seems to be deteriorating and affecting all healthcare systems in Europe and other countries around the world. Shortages of medicines constitute a growing problem with a significant impact on public health and, if not addressed effectively, could lead to a global crisis in the provision of pharmaceutical care to patients. This research aims to investigate the main causes of drug shortages in Cyprus, the extent of the problem locally and the stages of the downstream pharmaceutical supply chain where shortages are most likely to occur. The research is conducted through semi-structured face-to-face interviews with a number of stakeholders from the local pharmaceutical supply chain followed by qualitative analysis of the gathered data. The findings of the study indicate that drug shortages in Cyprus are mainly located at the production and importation stages of the pharmaceutical supply chain. They originate from multifactorial causes and they are both supply and demand related. Cyprus, as a small country, has always confronted problems with shortages of medicines. The peculiarities of its market make Cyprus particularly vulnerable to shortages, but the extent of the problem does not seem to differ compared to that observed in other small European countries. The study findings are anticipated to shed light on the causes of shortages and to strengthen the efforts being made to address the problem nationally especially at a time where the healthcare system of the country is under reform.