The EU needs more medicine – level 1
29-09-2025 07:00
The European Union has many problems with medicines. A report says that 136 important medicines are missing between 2022 and 2024.
In 2023, there are 48 shortages, and in 2024, there are 46. Belgium, Spain, and France have the most problems. Amoxicillin, a medicine for infections, is one example. The problem happens because many people need medicines, factories cannot make enough, and energy is expensive. It also costs 20–40% more to make medicines in the EU than in Asia. So the EU often gets materials from Asia.
The shortages make life hard for patients and for hospitals. Each country has different rules about reporting and keeping medicines, so it is not easy to know how big the problem is there.
Difficult words: missing (not in the place where it should be), shortage (when there is not enough of something what people need), patient (a sick person who is getting medical help).
You can watch the original video in the Level 3 section.
What factors have contributed to the shortage of important medicines, like amoxicillin, in countries such as Belgium, Spain, and France?
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