Pharmaceutical Supply Shortage Law Fails to Improve Medicine AvailabilityThe legislation introduced to mitigate pharmaceutical supply shortages in Germany has been found to be largely ineffective, according to a recent evaluation by the country's statutory health insurance association. The law, known as the Pharmaceutical Supply Shortage Mitigation and Care Improvement Act (ALBVVG), was enacted in 2023 as a response to persistent disruptions in the availability of essential medications, a problem which intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the GKV-SV considers the law difficult to justify amid rising health insurance contributions and ongoing supply challenges. The pharmaceutical industry has also criticized the law, labeling the approach as inconsistent and insufficient to address the underlying causes of supply bottlenecks. As Germany continues to grapple with medicine shortages, the debate over effective solutions remains active among policymakers, health insurers, and the pharmaceutical sector.

Source: The Munich Eye January 13, 2026 17:32 UTC