Experts warn of Spain drug shortages as a common everyday medicine runs out

Spain is currently in the midst of a serious drug supply problem; in recent weeks, nearly 12,000 supply shortages have been recorded, affecting more than 1,500 different medications…including a common, everyday-use painkiller.

Aspirin running out in Spain: More than 11,700 shortages across nearly 4,000 pharmacies

The shortage was alerted by LUDA Partners, a network that connects more than 3,700 pharmacies in Spain. According to the network, 1,538 different medications are being affected by 11,785 supply shortages, with the latest addition to the figures being acetylsalicylic acid, the active ingredient in aspirin. As a result, aspirin is one of the five medications with the most reported shortages in Spain and accounts for 4 per cent of reported shortages on a national scale, an unprecedented figure.

This shortage is reported to affect 75 milligram in 30 unit-packs and 100 milligrams in 500 unit-packs of the drug, as well as Aspirin Plus, a particular brand of the drug, in its 500 milligram and 50 milligram formats.

This shortage could spell trouble for patients who regularly use aspirin to treat chronic pain, or those who need a quick, safe, and over-the-counter painkiller for unexpected aches and ailments. Additionally, acetylsalicylic acid is also a main ingredient in Lenzetto, a hormonal therapy for women in menopause.

The Canary Islands facing supply strain, particularly for epilepsy medication

The LUDA Partners report also points specifically to the Canary Islands, listing some other medicines that are difficult to obtain in the autonomous community. Among the medicines mentioned were Gabapentin, used to treat epilepsy and neuropathic pain; Hibor, an anticoagulant used to prevent thrombosis; Amchafibrin, a medication indicated for the control and prevention of bleeding; Depakine, used to treat different types of epilepsy; and Furantoin, a common antibiotic in the treatment of urinary tract infections.

More than half of people over 15 in Spain suffer from a chronic condition

LUDA Partners has alerted to the severity of the problem, stating that 54.3 per cent of the population over the age of 15 suffers from at least one chronic disease (including any long-term conditions). This number gets even more stark in those over 65 years of age, as 40 per cent of men and 44 per cent of women have two or more chronic pathologies, 2025-2028 Development Document of the Strategy for Addressing Chronicity of the Ministry of Health.

Not just aspirin: Spain faces drug supply shortages across the board

More common drugs facing shortages in the country include Fixaprost, intended for patients with glaucoma; Amchafibrin, which prevents hemorrhages; and Kreon, which is prescribed in cases of pancreatic insufficiency. These medicines are all among those with the most reported shortages.

What is causing the supply shortage?

The shortage is being caused by multiple factors, including temporary and seasonal increases of demand, spiking production costs, and ongoing tensions that affect international supply chains.

Certain medications also present a low profitability, hindering the production and distribution of some treatments and causing wider structural issues.

Spain has been under “pressure” due to this pharmaceutical supply shortage for years, but, though very noticeable in Spain, this drug supply shortage is not exclusive to the country.