As we were informed by pharmacies, Novalgin, the medication we routinely prescribe after surgery, is no longer available until further notice.
This is a real problem, as many other pain medications either have dangerous side effects or are detrimental to the healing process.
Germany has a highly praised healthcare system, and all too often, there are arguments about costs and rising drug prices.
Certainly often not unfounded. However, what is forgotten is that the majority of the medications in pharmacies are old medications. These medications have been on the market for many years, and their patent protection has long since expired. The result is a rigorous price war. Discount agreements with health insurance companies do the rest.
Before a medication reaches the patient, it goes through countless stages: pharmacy, wholesalers, and various pharmaceutical companies, all the way to the manufacturer of the basic ingredients.
It is precisely the latter, the manufacturers of the basic ingredients, who ultimately have no money left. The result is that important basic ingredients can no longer be manufactured and are no longer produced. Since these manufacturers often supply many pharmaceutical companies simultaneously, supply shortages quickly arise for various companies. All major names (Ratiopharm, Hexal, etc.) are affected.
Recently, there have been frequent supply shortages for penicillins, and now for the absolute standard pain medication Novalgin, also known as Novalminsulfone (active ingredient: metamizole).
The German Pharmacist's Journal also writes about this: Is a metamizole supply shortage looming? Read the full article here>>>