Infarmed bans export of 52 medications in Portugal

Infarmed has prohibited the export of 52 different medications to ensure domestic supply in Portugal. The restricted drugs include antidepressants, analgesics, antibiotics, and cancer treatments.

A significant portion of the ban affects 163 presentations of quetiapine, an antipsychotic used for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. Supply constraints for this active ingredient are expected to persist until the end of the year. These shortages stem from a manufacturing suspension in Greece following the detection of microbial contamination at a facility that supplies most market authorization holders in Portugal. The production issue is also impacting other European Union countries.

The monthly list of suspended exports includes medications that experienced medium or high impact shortages in the previous month, as well as those supplied under Exceptional Use Authorization (AUE). Infarmed monitors shortages and commercial cessations daily and coordinates with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Commission to manage availability across the EU.