The European Shortage Monitoring Platform (ESMP) was officially launched on January 29, 2025. This initiative aims to strengthen the capacity to monitor the availability of medicines across the European Union (EU). The platform will enable the notification and management of situations where medicines are unavailable by national competent authorities and marketing authorization holders (MAHs).
Development in Collaboration with Experts and Authorities
The ESMP was developed in collaboration with industry experts and national authorities, including INFARMED, I.P., which has been actively involved since the beginning of the project. Collaboration between different entities aims to ensure an effective solution for managing drug shortages across the region.
Benefits for the European Union
According to Dr. Nuno Simões, director of Infarmed’s Interinstitutional and Health System Projects Unit (USS), the new platform represents a fundamental step in preventing and mitigating critical disruptions in the availability of medicines in the European Union. Dr. Nuno Simões highlights the following benefits:
- Improved coordination in information sharing between the EMA and national authorities.
- Enhanced monitoring capabilities for quicker responses to medicine shortages.
- Strengthened system resilience, ensuring greater security and predictability in drug supply.
- Better crisis management, minimizing the impact of potential disruptions in the European market.
Relevance in Crisis Situations
The platform will be of great importance in crisis situations, such as public health emergencies or in cases that require additional monitoring of the availability of medicines.
Its implementation will allow for a faster and more coordinated approach to dealing with these challenges.
Support for using the platform
To facilitate the use of the platform, the EMA has made up-to-date user guides available to both national authorities and MAHs. These materials can be consulted on the EMA’s ESMP page, offering full support for the proper use of the tool.
Online Training on the Platform
An online training session will be held on February 19, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (CET). During this session, participants will be able to learn about the platform’s functionalities and answer questions about how it works. This initiative aims to ensure that everyone involved is well informed and prepared to use the platform efficiently.
This new platform represents a significant advance in the management of medicines and promises to improve the European Union’s response in times of shortage and crisis.
