government to mandate drug stockpiling

A new bill proposed by the Danish government will require up to 250 pharmaceutical companies to maintain medicine stocks equivalent to eight weeks of sales, reports Berlingske. Minister of the Interior and Health, Sophie Løhde (V), says this measure is to prevent shortages of critical drugs, as has recently been the case. The industry, however, warns of potential price increases and the risk of companies withdrawing from the market. The annual cost of stock creation and stock reporting is estimated to be between DKK 120 and 160 million. Additional costs of DKK 60 to 185 million are anticipated for the development of an IT system for stock notification to the Danish Medicines Agency.