Amid anxious headlines about medicines, the European Medicines Agency has released a reassuring verdict: this winter is not expected to bring antibiotic shortages. Yet behind the official note lies a web of vulnerabilities that could still affect Romanian clinics and pharmacies. The agency points to years of reform, new procurement rules, and a leaner reliance on global suppliers, but warns that risk remains.
While no antibiotics are on the EMAs watchlist, the EU still faces shortages of other medicines. In January 2024, nineteen European Economic Area countries reported antibiotics shortages, and eleven faced critical shortages, according to EMA data. Amoxicillin, a common antibiotic, faced severe shortages from 2022 until last June when it was removed from the watchlist. As of now, thirty six medicines across the EU are in short supply, yet none of them are antibiotics; many are chemotherapy drugs or antipsychotics with alternatives.
EMA current snapshot shows stability in antibiotic supply this winter compared with previous years. Overall antibiotic use remained relatively stable between 2024 and 2025. The agency notes there is currently no risk of disruptions to essential antibiotics, but stockouts of other medicines persist and can be driven by demand spikes or supply chain hiccups. In parallel, an EU-wide report highlights that 36 medicines are in short supply, underscoring that shortage pressures are not limited to antibiotics alone.
To reduce reliance on external suppliers, the EU is pushing the Critical Medicines Act to secure supply and prioritize EU based manufacturers in public procurement. It targets essential medicines and aims to increase investment in EU manufacturing and key ingredients. The plan aims to reduce the share of APIs sourced from outside the EU, currently high; estimates show up to 80% of APIs and about 40% of finished medicines come from India and China. The EU’s historical share of active ingredient production has fallen from 53% in the early 2000s to under 25% today. An EU auditor’s report warns that a practical framework to address shortages is still lacking, so the transition will hinge on policy execution and industry cooperation.
