Doctors and pharmaceutical representatives are calling for an investigation into a possible abnormal purchase of medications containing amoxicillin-clavulanic acid.
The representatives made the call in a meeting with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week.
Doctors said there were signs of increased usage of the antibiotic medication starting in September and October last year, with monthly rates of oral tablets containing the compound rising from 2.16 million to 4.73 million, FDA pharmaceutical division head Yang Po-wen (楊博文) said.
Photo courtesy of the Tainan City Government
They said that increased respiratory tract ailments could lead to increased usage of the medication, Yang said.
The Taiwan Medical Association, the Federation of Taiwan Pharmacists Associations, the Pharmacist Association of the Republic of China and other organizations have been asked to help look into the supply and demand of the compound over the past three months, the FDA said.
As of December last year, requests for increased production and imports of oral tablets, syrups and powdered medication containing the compound have doubled, but doctors were still complaining of shortages, Yang said.
Although production has increased, it cannot keep up with the rising number of people with respiratory tract diseases worldwide, he said.
The FDA is trying to negotiate with manufacturers to obtain more of the medication, he said.
Pharmaceutical makers are worried that if they increase production, they would eventually be left with a drug surplus and no market when demand falls, Yang said.
National Health Insurance Administration Director-General Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said that drug shortages, especially for nonprescription medicine, can be attributed to three causes: lack of labor, lack of materials or manufacturers’ disinclination to make a drug due to National Health Insurance payouts.
The administration would continue to seek opinions regarding whether it is necessary to institute mandatory “floor” pricing on nonprescription medications to alleviate shortages.
It is considering how to offer precise payouts for drugs based on necessity, availability of alternatives and whether current prices are reasonable, Shih said, adding that he hoped manufacturers could stabilize production for hospitals, clinics and pharmacies in the meantime.
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