Record levels of medicine shortages were recorded across the EU in 2023 and 2024, with the Union facing critical shortages of as many as 136 medicines.

Omissions

• The figure of 136 critical shortages covers the period from January 2022 to October 2024, not exclusively 2023–2024 as implied by the claim. The MEP's statement links the 136 figure specifically to 2023–2024, whereas the source data includes 2022 as well.
• The European Court of Auditors report (SR 19/2025) was published in 2025; the MEP could have cited this source but did not.
• The claim does not specify that 'critical shortage' has a specific regulatory definition under the EMA framework — these are shortages where no appropriate therapeutic alternatives are available at national level.

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Court of Auditors — Special Report 19/2025Record levels of shortages were reported in 2023 and 2024. Between 2022 and October 2024, EU national competent authorities reported 136 critical shortages to the European Medicines Agency.
• SecondaryEuronewsBetween 2022 and October 2024, national authorities reported 136 critical shortages to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the report said.
• SecondaryThe BMJIt found that European Union countries ran critically short of 136 medicines from January 2022 to October 2024.