The case in summary Inger Brokka de Ruiter (40) expresses concern about the lack of life-extending medicine in Norway, especially after her father, Bjørn Davidsen (76), who has prostate cancer that has spread to the skeleton, has had problems getting hold of the necessary medicine. De Ruiter is also the mother of Elias (14), who has autism and is severely mentally disabled. He is dependent on several medications, and she has noticed that it has also become more difficult to get hold of these. She expresses concern for other patients who may deteriorate or not be able to stay alive due to lack of medicine. De Ruiter believes that Norway should have business players who produce medicines, and that it is problematic that large foreign companies control access to medicines in Norway. The Directorate for Medical Products explains that many of the shortage situations are due to commercial priorities on the part of the pharmaceutical companies, as well as production and logistics challenges. State Secretary Karl Kristian Bekeng (Ap) says the drug shortage lies outside Norway’s borders, but that they are working both nationally and internationally with measures related to drugs. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – In Norway, you shouldn’t have to run around worrying about hunting for life-extending medicine. Now someone has to press the red button, says Inger Brokka de Ruiter (40). A year ago, her father Bjørn Davidsen (76) found out that he has prostate cancer that has spread to the skeleton. The doctors cannot cure the disease. Just slow down its development. The 76-year-old benefits greatly from hormone therapy that slows down the disease. The one medicine turns out to be difficult to obtain. This both surprised and made de Ruiter and his father very worried. – For many chronic patients and the seriously ill, this is probably everyday life. Patients suffer from this, says de Ruiter, who is deputy mayor for SV in Arendal. – Neither the pharmacies, patients nor relatives have a predictability linked to medicines. I hope the new health minister takes action, says Inger Brokka de Ruiter. Photo: Per-Kåre Sandbakk / news Fears lives may be lost Inger Brokka de Ruiter is also the mother of Elias (14), who is severely affected by autism, has a severe degree of mental retardation and ADHD. He also takes four or five necessary medicines. De Ruiter and her husband have noticed that it has become more difficult to obtain medication for their son as well. – Overnight we can find out that a medicine has expired or needs to be changed. It is very complicated and unpredictable, she says. But the fact that there should also be a shortage of medicine linked to cancer treatment shocked de Ruiter. – I can feel it in my pulse. There is something terribly wrong with the system, she believes. A recent survey by the Pharmacy Association has shown that up to 550,000 Norwegians cannot get hold of the medicines they need. Have you personally experienced not being able to get hold of important medicines or have thoughts on the subject? Have your say further down in the matter. Bjørn Davidsen lives well with the cancer now as long as he receives the anti-inflammatory drugs. – I don’t feel ill and the medicines keep the values under control, he says. Photo: Per-Kåre Sandbakk / news The 40-year-old adds: – I don’t sit here and cry for my sick father, because we will always be fine, but I am worried about other patients who are either getting worse or may not be able to keep up alive. The father Bjørn Davidsen describes the situation as demanding. – I also think it is strange that Norway does not have better control over its medicines, he says. – Can we get hold of the medicine next time? This time it worked out with medicine for the father. It was in a warehouse in Vestfold. Bjørn Davidsen received enough medicine for 28 days. De Ruiter says his thoughts quickly began to spin about the way forward. – Can we get hold of the medicine next time? How should we plan to solve it, then? De Ruiter believes that there should have been business actors in Norway who produced medicines. – I am amazed that large foreign companies want to make money and control how our health is in Norway. We must be able to take care of preparedness and patient safety ourselves. As a politician, de Ruiter has been head of the health committee in the city council in Arendal. She says that here she gained a deeper insight into the matter. – I believe that we local elected officials must work against those who sit in the Storting in order to bring about change. Because we are the closest to the citizens and the challenges they face. Have you experienced not being able to get your medicines? Yes, unfortunately! No, fortunately not. Show result The Ministry of Health and Care tells news that the government is working both nationally and internationally with measures related to pharmaceuticals. State Secretary Karl Kristian Bekeng (Ap) says the stories of people affected by medicine shortages make an impression. – Our most important task is to ensure that people get healthcare when they need it, and solving the challenges related to drug shortages is an important part of this, says Bekeng. See the full response from the government further down in the matter. State Secretary Karl Kristian Bekeng (Ap) says the cause of the drug shortage lies outside Norway’s borders. Photo: Truls Alnes Antonsen / news Will not hoard – yet Inger Brokka de Ruiter is also concerned with hoarding medicines. She believes it is a demanding dilemma and has not yet taken that step herself. – It can’t be like that that you either have to hoard, and make it more difficult for others, or not and end up not getting medication? At Apotek 1 at Aquarama in Kristiansand, they notice that some customers are worried that their medicines will not be available. – Do you experience people trying to hoard medicines? – Yes, especially if we have received something that they have been waiting a long time for. Sometimes we have to say no and rather distribute it so that more people can receive treatment, says pharmacist Christina Dvergsnes. – We spend a lot more time checking whether a nearby pharmacy has the medicine or whether we have to order it from a wholesaler, says pharmacist Christina Dvergsnes at Apotek 1 in Kristiansand. Photo: Heidi Ditlefsen / news She has worked at the pharmacy for almost ten years and is well aware that the medicine shortage has increased in recent years. She advises that people themselves can go to the websites of the pharmacies and check the stocks of various medicines. Norway does not prioritize According to the Directorate for Medical Products, many of the shortages are due to commercial priorities on the part of the pharmaceutical companies. – There it is simply the case that the suppliers do not always prioritize delivering goods to the Norwegian market, which is relatively small. Other markets are bigger and more interesting, probably, says senior physician Ingrid Aas. She also highlights production and logistics challenges as frequent reasons why suppliers report supply problems. – Production is both complex and global. From raw material to finished product in Norway, there are many stages where things can potentially go wrong, says Aas. Senior doctor Ingrid Aas at the Directorate for Medical Products says it seems that the medicine shortage is a challenge that is here to stay. At least in the short term. Photo: STATENS LEGEMDELVERK In Arendal, Inger Brokka de Ruiter is excited about how the medicine shortage will be in the coming years. – I am concerned about the consequences this has for society in general and for individuals. This is no longer possible, she says. The full response from the Ministry of Health – Considerable emergency stockpiles of medicines were established during the pandemic, these must be continued and further developed. We have also proposed important legislative changes that will enable the rationing of medicines in pharmacies and from wholesalers. – The causes of drug shortages often lie outside Norway’s borders. The global pharmaceutical market has complex value chains and significant dependencies. Therefore, the government is also working closely with the EU to ensure that Norway participates in the EU’s health cooperation, where the European countries work together to, among other things, give patients faster access to medicines. Here at home, we have made changes in health administration and given an extended mandate to the Directorate for Medical Products related to security of supply and preparedness for, among other things, medicines, says State Secretary Karl Kristian Bekeng (Ap). Hello! Welcome to dialogue at news. Since you are logged in to other news services, you do not have to log in again here, but we need your consent to our terms of use for online dialogue Published 25.07.2024, at 19.47 Updated 25/07/2024, at 20.55
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Concern for cancer patients and the chronically ill – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
