Obligatory storing of medicines
The purpose of the Act and Decree on the obligatory storing of medicines is to ensure the availability and use of medicines in circumstances where availability in Finland is restricted or suspended as a result of supply disruptions, a serious crisis or other equivalent reason.
Pharmaceutical factories, importers of pharmaceuticals, health care units and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare have an obligation pursuant to law to maintain a pharmaceutical reserve for emergency conditions. For example, pharmaceutical factories and importers may use this reserve only on specific grounds, such as in the case of supply shortages and, even then, only with the permission of Fimea or the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
The medicines to be stored are determined on the basis of Act on the obligatory storing of medicines and on the Government Decree. Thus, any changes to the pharmaceuticals or groups of pharmaceuticals to be stored will require an amendment to legislation. Fimea annually confirms the medicinal products to be included in the mandatory reserve supplies item by item.