The Pharmaceutical Association of Attica complained that there is a serious shortage of drugs as more than 400 essential medicines are not available.
According to pharmacists, more than 200 drugs for almost the entire range of ailments are in a permanent state of shortage.
Main reason for the shortage is the so-called “parallel export,” a phenomenon that led to similar shortages also in the past.
As Greece has the lowest prices for medicines in the EU, exporting is very profitable for drug makers and distributors.
While inside the country profit is set at 4.67%, export to Germany, United Kingdom or France can skyrocket the profit by over 100%, media report.
Other reasons but of lesser importance, the shortages are reportedly also linked to problems in the production of medicines (shortages of raw materials) and the reduced quantities of medicines imported by the Pharmaceutical Research and Technology Company (IFET), which are unique medicines, daily kathimerini reports.
