Table 2.

Causes for drug shortages reported in national reporting systems

Production problems
Italy	Production problem (at European level)
France	Problems with production
	Impurities found in syringe
	Lack of active substance
	Contamination particular lots
Germany	Production problem
	Technical defect in the production procces
	Problems with manufacturing the solvent
	Inability to meet the demand due to problem GMP compliance
Belgium	Production problem
	Re-engineering of the process and equipment at sterile production site
	Availability of raw material
The Netherlands	Production problems
	Delay startup new production line
	Problems with raw materials
	Recall of a batch
	Problems with quality
	Possible contamination
England	Manufacturing issues
Spain	Problems with sterility based on inspection in France and UK
Economic reason
Italy	Commercial problem
Belgium	Stop due to commercial reasons
The Netherlands	Economic reasons
Other
Italy	Administrative problem
	Natural disaster
	Regulatory problem
France	Mistake in labeling
England	Shortage of active pharmaceutical ingredient
	Stop supply of alternative
Spain	Marketing authorization cancelled
Belgium	Limited stock because unavailability of alternative product
	Problem of stock
The Netherlands	Increased demand
	Delayed supply
	Logistic problems
	Moving production sites
	Extensive controll
	Delay in delivery of new packages