Shortages and AMR – why should we care? 4 consequences of antibiotic shortages

Shortages of antibiotics have become a global problem that also affect countries with robust healthcare and regulatory systems. The causes are several, sometimes difficult to oversee, and the solutions are not as easy to implement as they are to conceptualize. Shortages of medicines in general cause patients to lose access to important treatments and, as such, lead to increased costs, morbidity and even mortality. But shortages of antibiotics may also lead to increases in antibiotic resistance.