Problems with the availability of morphine. This is the effect of Brexit, supplies will be restored later this year, says the health minister

Signals about problems with the availability of morphine have been appearing for several weeks. About the shortage of products with morphine intended for oral administration, Prof. dr hab. Wojciech Leppert, national consultant in the field of palliative medicine. He stressed that at least tens of thousands of patients require treatment for pain and shortness of breath with morphine. The drug is needed especially in the group of cancer patients. Also, the Supreme Pharmaceutical Council receives more and more signals about the lack of morphine. Therefore, the Ombudsman for Citizens' Rights, Marcin Wiącek, sent a letter to the Minister of Health in which he asks about actions taken to improve the situation.

"It should also be mentioned that in a situation where a drug is marketed but unavailable in the country, the procedure (...) the so-called direct import, enabling the import of a drug from abroad, if its use is necessary to save the patient's life or health. However, in the public space there are voices of experts that this procedure is long-term and usually expensive. In addition, for people who in many cases have only a few months left to live, it may be inappropriate advice to indicate that they can look for pain relief in other countries,” the letter reads.

Adam Niedzielski referred to the case during Wednesday's press conference. As he said, the problem is due to the disruption of the supply chain as a result of Brexit, as a result of which production had to be moved from the UK to Germany.

- We have a manufacturer's declaration that supplies will be restored this year, assured the Minister of Health.