Further information
On this page, you will find publications, FAQs and links relating to the Therapeutic products division.
Publications
Ordinances
The ordinances concerning the Therapeutic products division are available as links in German, French and Italian.
Reports on the supply risk by subject area
The reports on the supply risk by subject area are available in German and French.
Training materials for Platform of Therapeutic Products
Interface
PDF5.04 MB1 July 2025
Switch between System Roles
PDF1.00 MB27 June 2025
Configuring Notification Settings
PDF2.00 MB1 July 2025
Rename or Delete Saved Filters
PDF1.49 MB1 July 2025
Define the Sorting Order of Issues
PDF941.67 kB1 July 2025
Add or Hide Columns of the Issues
PDF1.41 MB1 July 2025
How to Filter Issues and Save Your Custom Filters
PDF2.01 MB1 July 2025
How to Change Language
PDF1.08 MB1 July 2025
Kanban Board
PDF3.82 MB14 November 2025
Inbox
PDF1.06 MB14 November 2025
Timeline
PDF3.55 MB14 November 2025
FAQs
The Therapeutic Products Division within the National Economic Supply (NES) organisation helps the economy to avert or resolve severe shortages of essential medicines, medical devices and hygiene products whenever necessary. The term ‘therapeutic products’ covers both medicines and medical devices.
Measures taken to ensure supplies include: reporting obligations and compulsory stockpiling, release of compulsory stocks and restrictions on sale and use.
In 2015, the NES Reporting Office for Essential Human Pharmaceuticals received the statutory mandate to monitor supply shortages of essential medicines.
The Reporting Office’s business processes have been fully automated using these tools since 1 July 2025 and are integrated into the new therapeutic products platform (TPP) as a monitoring and case management system.
The Reporting Office for Essential Human Pharmaceuticals operates the new therapeutic products platform (TPP). Marketing authorisation holders are required to use this platform to report shortages or disruptions in the supply of active substances subject to reporting obligations and/or compulsory stockpiling.
Based on the reports received and additional market surveys, the Reporting Office assesses the market supply situation and, if necessary, takes appropriate measures to ensure supply.
From June 2026, the platform will switch to proactive monitoring to identify supply disruptions or shortages at an early stage and take appropriate measures in good time. The aim is to prevent supply shortages wherever possible.
The reporting and stockpiling obligations for human pharmaceuticals are continually reviewed and expanded by the Therapeutic Products Division.
Disruptions to the supply of reportable human pharmaceuticals and vaccines eased somewhat in 2025, even factoring in the expansion of the reporting obligation in 2023. However, the number of reports on supply disruptions and compulsory stockpile authorisations is still high. Due to the slight easing, the ordinances on releases of compulsory stocks of vaccines and anti-infectives (which enable release of compulsory stocks below 80%) have been repealed.
Active substances subject to the reporting obligation are listed in the Ordinance on the Essential Human Pharmaceuticals Reporting Office (SR 531.80). In accordance with legislation, companies that manufacture or sell these substances in Switzerland (marketing authorisation holders) must report supply shortages, delivery disruptions and market withdrawals to the Reporting Office. The list of active substances subject to the reporting obligation is reviewed and updated by the NES organisation on a regular basis.
Compulsory stocks are a cornerstone of the national economic supply and a well-established emergency measure. They minimise the risk of severe shortages, supply bottlenecks or delivery disruptions having a direct and powerful impact on the market. They give the economy time to establish new ways of resupplying the market. Compulsory stocks belong to the company subject to the compulsory stockpiling and enter the market through the usual sales channels. The composition of the compulsory stocks, quality requirements, quantities and eligibility criteria for obtaining goods from compulsory stocks are governed in ordinances (SR 531.215.31 and SR 531.215.311). Most compulsory stocks of pharmaceuticals are currently intended to cover three months’ worth of demand, or four months for vaccine stocks. Active substances subject to compulsory stockpiling are also subject to a reporting obligation.
Active pharmaceutical substances are regularly analysed and assessed according to various criteria such as their medical value, therapeutic alternatives, supply chain and previous supply shortages. Active substances that are critical from a medical perspective and have been affected by isolated supply disruptions are subject to the reporting obligation. Active substances that are classified as essential and are affected by frequent supply disruptions are subject to both the reporting obligation and compulsory stockpiling.
This is in keeping with the National Economic Supply Act (NESA; SR 531), which outlines measures to secure essential goods and services during severe shortages that the economy cannot address alone (Art. 1 NESA). The reportable essential medicinal products are listed in the Ordinance on the Reporting Office for Essential Human Pharmaceuticals.
In Switzerland, the private sector takes primary responsibility for this (Art. 1 NESA). During severe shortages that the private sector cannot resolve, the federal government and, if necessary, the cantons step in (Art. 3 para. 2 NESA). The federal government has limited health policy powers (Art. 118 para. 2 Federal Constitution), while the cantons are primarily responsible for healthcare, especially hospitals.
Suppliers of reportable pharmaceuticals are required to notify the Reporting Office of shortages or disruptions. The list of reportable active ingredients is revised regularly. This system helps the NES to identify shortages early and, if needed, release compulsory stocks.
Since October 2015, the National Economic Supply organisation (NES) has operated a Reporting Office for supply disruptions of essential active ingredients. When shortages occur, the NES typically publishes recommendations, identifies potential substitutes and checks their availability.
In human medicine, compulsory stocks are maintained for certain medicines (e.g. antibiotics, fungicides, antivirals and oncology drugs), painkillers (analgesics and opiates), vaccines and other critical active ingredients. These stocks have helped prevent or alleviate many supply shortages in recent years. The NES regularly reviews and updates the list of products to be stockpiled on behalf of the federal government.
For animal health, Switzerland maintains compulsory stocks of antibiotic veterinary medicinal products to cover two months of normal requirements.
Links
Federal Office of Public Health FOPH
Federal Food Security and Veterinary Office FSVO
Helvecura (in German and French)
Swiss Medical Association FMH (in German, French and Italian)
drugshortage.ch - Overview of medicine shortages in Switzerland (in German, French and Italian)