Inside EU Health: Pharmacists ‘on the front lines’ of Europe’s medicine shortages; untreated menopause's cost on productivity; long term impact of Long COVID
Pharmacists ‘on the front lines’ of Europe’s medicine shortages; untreated menopause has a €17 billion cost on productivity; Study highlights reduced ability to work among people with Long COVID
Pharmacists ‘on the front lines’ of Europe’s medicine shortages
At a Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU) event in the European Parliament, policymakers, auditors, industry and consumer advocates agreed Europe must move beyond crisis management to fix medicine shortages.
Pharmacists described being “on the front lines,” spending growing time managing supply gaps. BEUC’s Ancel·la Santos warned that shortages cause “anxiety [and] distress,” treatment interruptions and, ultimately, higher costs.
he European Court of Auditors’s Matthias Blaas said shortages carry “no financial consequence” for industry and “no reward for resilience either,” blaming price-only tenders and single-winner contracts.
MEP Tomislav Sokol called reliance on imports “definitely intolerable” and unequal access to innovative medicines “entirely unacceptable.” Solutions discussed included prevention plans, joint procurement, limits on harmful stockpiling and a “European preference” benchmark of 50% production in Europe.
Catherine Feore
Untreated menopause has a €17 billion cost on productivity
At an event in the European Parliament organised by The Left, policymakers, researchers and activists called for menopause to be recognised as a major public health and workplace issue across Europe.
Speakers highlighted that menopause has long been overlooked in medical research and policy. Despite its significant physical and psychological effects, including hot flashes, sleep disruption, mood changes and concentration difficulties, it is still widely treated as a private matter rather than a structural health concern.
Participants stressed that menopause often occurs during the peak of women’s professional careers, yet workplaces rarely provide support or flexibility. The lack of research and clinical guidance also means many women face delayed diagnoses or inadequate treatment.
According to estimates presented during the debate, the economic cost of untreated menopause symptoms in the EU could reach €17 billion per year due to lost productivity and health impacts.
MEPs and civil society groups called for an EU-wide strategy including more gender-sensitive medical research, better training for healthcare professionals, improved workplace policies and stronger public awareness around menopause.
Study highlights reduced ability to work among people with Long COVID
More than half of people living with long COVID report poor ability to work, yet most continue to remain employed. These findings come from a cross-sectional study by researchers at Lund University in Sweden using survey data from the Life After COVID-19 (LAC) project.
The study included 608 adults who reported post-COVID condition (PCC) symptoms lasting longer than two months. Participants were recruited through social media in October and November 2021. Their average age was 47.3 years, and 87% were women. Most had not been hospitalized during their initial COVID-19 infection.
Using a Work Ability Scorin system, researchers found that 51% of respondents rated their current work ability in the “poor” range. Despite this, 70% said they were still working and only 18% were on sick leave, suggesting widespread “presenteeism,” where people work despite reduced capacity.
Fatigue was common, with 83% reporting mental fatigue and 86% physical fatigue.
The authors conclude that perceived poor work ability is common among people with long COVID and emphasize the need for tailored support to help individuals maintain participation in work and daily life.