An adequate supply of medicines is crucial for public health, especially when it comes to dealing with a pandemic. The Therapeutic Products division puts appropriate measures in place in order to prevent shortfalls or to be able to cope with them without major consequences for the public.
Measures for human medicines
Measures concerning human medicine
Release of compulsory stocks
Ethanol
Tamiflu® quotas
Priority distribution
Distribution of partial quantities
In Switzerland compulsory stocks have to be held of a number of essential goods. This means that certain sectors of the economy are required to maintain stocks of these goods as a contribution to security of supply.
The Confederation supervises and subsidises the maintenance of these compulsory stocks. The essential goods concerned are: foodstuffs (certain foods and fertilisers), energy (e.g. petrol, heating oil) and therapeutic products (antibiotics, painkillers, insulin preparations). More information on this topic can be found under Strategic stockpiling.
Compulsory stocks can be released within 1 to 2 weeks, ensuring goods remain available in the case of a disruption to supply.
Ethanol is a substance that is particularly important for the chemical-pharmaceutical industry. Ethanol is indispensable in the production of medicines. Shortages in the supply of ethanol during the COVID-19 crisis made also the general public aware of how important it is to have ethanol available at all times. The Federal Council has now set the course to ensure that Switzerland will always have enough ethanol in the future.
A first step in this direction was the establishment of a security stockpile. The Federal Council had applied for a commitment credit of CHF 5.82 million for this. This was an interim solution, being limited until the end of 2021. Parliament approved this in September 2020. This security storage facility will hold 6000 tonnes of ethanol. This will cover the demand for ethanol required for three months in supply-relevant areas such as disinfectants and medicines.
The ethanol is stored at the private company Alcosuisse. The planned 6000 tonnes have been in reserve there since the end of March 2021. The federal government compensates the company for the storage costs. The FONES can authorise Alcosuisse to withdraw ethanol from the security stockpile if the supply situation worsens again.
As a permanent solution, however, the Federal Council is endeavouring to establish a compulsory stockpile for ethanol. The corresponding ordinance, which is currently being consulted on, is based on the National Economic Supply Act (NESA).
Tamiflu® will be released to the cantons on a quota basis should the release of compulsory stocks be insufficient to meet actual demand.
In this case, the Confederation will take charge of the compulsory stocks and the cantons, which are responsible for internal distribution within their canton, can order the amounts required. It is estimated that it will take about one month for compulsory stocks to be delivered to the cantons.
In the event of major distributors of medical supplies being unable to operate, the remaining market participants should cooperate to ensure security of supply, as far as possible without state intervention. In the event of a crisis, wholesalers commit themselves to cooperating on the basis of solidarity and responsibility towards customers and the population.
If necessary, in a second phase a priority system will be set up to ensure the supply of the most important products. Emergency medication will remain available as far as possible without interruption. Any interruption in the supply of essential medications should not last longer than two weeks, while basic medications should be available to hospitals and doctor’s surgeries within four weeks. All other products will only be delivered according to wholesalers’ available capacities.
The "Taskforce for Medicine Shortages" was established to combat the difficult supply situation of medicaments in spring of 2022. The objectives of the Taskforce have since been integrated into the existing structures of the Federal administration. The taskforce had defined a series of immediate measures, some of which have already been implemented as well as medium and long-term measures that have been incorporated into ongoing projects. One important immediate measure implemented is the recommendation to distribute medicines with supply shortages in partial quantities.
Measures for veterinary medicinal products
Switzerland has compulsory stocks of antibiotic veterinary medicinal products which cover normal requirements for two months.
Compulsory stocks are used to ensure that sufficient quantities of antibiotics can continue to be used appropriately in the event of a shortage, thereby reducing the risk of antibiotic resistance developing. Excessive and improper use of antibiotics can lead to the emergence of resistant bacteria, and these can also be transmitted to humans. In order to minimise the risk of this occurring, the Strategy on Antibiotic Resistance Switzerland (StAR) has been drawn up. The strategy defines a list of first-line antibiotics available to veterinarians to treat farm animals. In the event of a shortage of these first-line antibiotics, the compulsory stocks provide reserves to bridge the shortage in the short term and thus ensure the appropriate use of antibiotics.
Since supply bottlenecks for veterinary medicines are occurring with increased frequency, these compulsory stocks ensure additional security of supply, at least in the short term. Only selected antibiotics are kept in the compulsory stocks of veterinary medicinal products (Ordinance on the compulsory stockpiling of medicinal products SR 531.215.31).
Compulsory stockpiling can also help to ensure that Switzerland has an adequate supply of veterinary medicines to comply with the Swiss Animal Welfare Act (AniWA), albeit in a modest way, as only antibiotics are held.
Practical information for marketing authorisation holders on release of compulsory stocks
If there is a supply shortage of a veterinary medicinal product for which there are compulsory stocks in accordance with Ordinance SR 531.215.31, distributors may apply to the compulsory stockholder to purchase this product using the form 'Application to purchase compulsory stocks (veterinary medicinal products)', which is available in German and in French. The correctly completed application can then be submitted to the FONES by email at kontakt-vet@bwl.admin.ch. Applications for compulsory stocks will only be approved if the market is no longer independently able to guarantee the supply of a certain product. Applications are assessed by the National Economic Supply organisation in cooperation with the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office.
A leaflet with step-by-step instructions on submitting an application for the release of veterinary medicinal products from compulsory stocks is available in German and in French to assist marketing authorisation holders. If the marketing authorisation holder plans to withdraw from the market, it can use the same form to apply for the compulsory stock to be dissolved. Further questions relating to veterinary medicinal products can be sent by email to kontakt-vet@bwl.admin.ch.
Article 3 of the National Economic Supply Act states that the supply of goods and services to the country is fundamentally a matter for the private sector. Compulsory stocks are only released if a serious nationwide shortage is identified following an assessment of the supply situation with all suppliers of an active substance.
Last modification 01.12.2023
