child health
Bavaria plans to import non-approved antibiotic juices
Shortage of medicines: The Bavarian district governments should temporarily allow the import of antibiotic juices that are not approved or registered in Germany (symbolic photo). photo
© Britta Pedersen/zb/dpa
Some medicines for children are hard to come by. This includes antibiotics. The shortage is now so great that Bavaria’s state government is taking extraordinary measures.
Due to a shortage of medicines, Bavaria wants to temporarily allow the import of antibiotic juices for children that are not approved in Germany. “We in Bavaria are leaving no stone unturned to improve the situation,” said Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) at the weekend. On Tuesday, the federal government officially identified a “supply shortage” of antibiotic juices for children.
According to Holetschek, it is now possible for the state authorities to temporarily deviate from the requirements of the Medicines Act in individual cases.
The Bavarian district governments are now to allow the import of antibiotic juices that are not approved or registered in Germany for a limited period of time in a new general decree. “In this way, the pharmaceutical wholesalers, pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies can act unbureaucratically,” said Holetschek.
Antibiotics are also prescribed for children for potentially life-threatening bacterial infections and diseases – such as pneumonia. According to the professional association of paediatricians (BVKJ), these preparations are currently so scarce nationwide that not enough antibiotics are available even for seriously ill children.