Factors that exacerbate medicine shortages include problems with production and reimbursement, in addition to product withdrawal. However, has the Commission ever carried out an impact assessment which includes a study of the negative impact of parallel imports, given the special nature of medicinal products and their markets?
Given that the parallel import of medicines and the mechanisms leading to medicine shortage of medicines may be linked, such an assessment could help establish evidence-based regulation of the medicines trade. What is more, it could also help the Member States to plan their pharmaceutical stocks.