Antibiotics, for example: possible bottlenecks
"When the consolidation progresses to the point where just one manufacturer remains at the end of the lifecycle, supply bottlenecks can occur. In the event of a quality defect, for example, the necessary quantities of the preparation cannot be produced. But unforeseen events such as a pandemic with a lockdown, or an earthquake or fire that destroys the manufacturing plant, can also be the cause of bottlenecks."
Antibiotics, for example: out-of-stock requests
"If the antibiotic can no longer be sourced in Switzerland, the marketing authorisation holder can submit an out-of-stock request to Swissmedic with the aim of importing, and temporarily distributing, an identical preparation from another European country. Such requests are processed promptly, and the comparable products can be repackaged in Switzerland or supplemented with a label and a Swiss package leaflet and then sold. This repackaging or new labelling is required to ensure patient safety. If a medicine is imported from Belgium, for example, this is labelled in French and Flemish. The package leaflet is written in these languages. The applicant must ensure that all the information relating to the medicine can be understood by professionals and patients in Switzerland."
Antibiotics, for example: foreign import
"If the authorised product is no longer being distributed in Switzerland, Swissmedic deletes the authorisation. In the case of medicines for small children, we can ask the manufacturer concerned to make the dossier available free of charge to a Swiss supplier. The manufacturer should also inform doctors and hospitals of therapeutic alternatives. Hospitals and doctors with the corresponding approval then have the option of importing similar products from another country."