Sweden investigates hormone drug shortage amid access concerns

The Swedish government is taking steps to address a growing shortage of hormone medications, especially estrogen treatments crucial for managing menopausal symptoms and improving women's quality of life. The issue has come to the forefront as more women seek treatment for menopausal complaints, leading to intermittent access problems.

In response, the government has decided to expand an analysis of the international pharmaceutical market. This includes assessing whether Sweden should be prepared to increase its payments to secure access to necessary medications. Social Affairs Minister Jakob Forssmed stated that the government is examining how global market changes impact drug availability in Sweden.

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The government is now analyzing how changes in the outside world affect access to medicines in Sweden.

The Tandvårds- och läkemedelsförmånsverket (TLV), the Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency, will lead this investigation. It will explore how Sweden's willingness to pay influences patient access to new treatments and the potential effects on the costs of pharmaceutical benefits. Current statistics indicate that Swedish drug prices are 18 percent below the European average, and fewer new medications are reaching Swedish patients.

Lif, an industry organization for research-based pharmaceutical companies, welcomed the government's decision. Sofia Wallström, CEO of Lif, emphasized that while cost-effectiveness is important, low prices should not be the sole objective if it leads to Sweden losing research and development investments, longer waiting times for patients, or a lack of medication availability. The analysis aims to balance affordability with ensuring timely access to vital treatments.

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Cost-effectiveness is important, but low prices can never be a goal in itself if the consequence is that Sweden loses investments in research and development, that patients wait longer for new treatments, or that medicines are not available on the Swedish market.