Antibiotics remain vital to modern medicine, yet the report by Newmarket Strategy, a Healthcare consultancy, warned that reliable access is under growing threat, with experts urging immediate policy reforms.
Specifically, the report emphasised the growing threat to the sustainable European supply of system-critical antibiotics, particularly penicillins, a principal class of antibiotics in global healthcare.
In 2023, 47% of primary care antibiotic consumption in the European Economic Area involved penicillin-based medicines such as amoxicillin, flucloxacillin, and co-amoxiclav, representing the highest use category across all healthcare settings.
In addition, the report highlighted 491 avoidable deaths in England, inflated prices, and delayed and cancelled treatments in Europe's recent years due to a penicillin shortage.
Meanwhile, supply risks may weaken efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance, creating untenable pressure on overstretched healthcare systems.
The report also proposed that to restore security of supply and safeguard access to critical antibiotics, European countries must take action across procurement reform, policy intervention, and international regulatory leadership.
Richard Saynor, CEO of Sandoz Group AG, says, " By acting now, we can protect supply, support stewardship and secure access for every patient who needs these vital medicines - not only today, but for generations to come."
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