How can the Swiss Confederation intervene in a subsidiary capacity to guarantee supply, if there is a shortage of a medicine or an active pharmaceutical ingredient that is not subject to a reporting obligation?

Disruptions to the supplies of active pharmaceutical ingredients not subject to reporting requirements may also be reported by their manufacturers or licence holders. The key issues in whether the Confederation can offer support are the importance of the ingredient, market considerations and the likely length of the disruption.

Possible actions by the National Economic Supply can only be taken on a subsidiary basis, i.e. if there is a severe shortage in the market (e.g. because no alternative suppliers are available) and if the unavailability of the ingredient concerned will have serious consequences for the patients affected.