To address the issue of stockouts - where a certain medicine is not available at the pharmacy, the government's investigator will propose measures to prevent and manage shortages of medicines, including antibiotics and veterinary medicines.
On average, 5.8 percent of all medicine packages are currently stockouts. This means sometimes extra work for me as a patient, but also for healthcare personnel and for pharmacies, says Minister of Health Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD) at a press conference on Monday.
The investigator will also propose a national function for coordination and procurement of medicines to strengthen the national ability to secure the supply of medicines. Another part is to analyze and propose a suitable arrangement for mandatory distribution or redistribution of medicines.
As certain care that previously took place in hospitals to a greater extent takes place at home, the government also wants to review whether hospital pharmacies can meet the demand for medicines even to other healthcare facilities than hospitals
The government also wants to see proposals on what requirements should apply to the preparedness of outpatient pharmacies and wholesalers,
Generally, we have a stable supply of medicines in Sweden. However, stockouts and shortages of various kinds arise, which can be manageable in everyday situations but devastating in, for example, a crisis situation, says Ankarberg Johansson.
The investigator Maria Landgren will submit a partial report on March 31, 2026, on the mandatory redistribution of medicines and a final report in November 2026.
