Government approves shipment of antibiotics from abroad

The government has approved payment for a special shipment of 100,000 packages of antibiotics from abroad. Health minister Vlastimil Válek says this is the first import of half a million packages expected to arrive by the end of February. The medicines are from other EU countries and according to the health minister, will not be significantly more expensive for the public health insurance system than drugs ordinarily supplied to Czechia.

The Czech Republic is currently dealing with the biggest drug shortage in its history, including blood pressure pills, cholesterol pills, and basic antibiotics. Much of Europe and the rest of the world is also dealing with a similar problem.