WILLEMSTAD - Christopher Middelhof, secretary of the Association of Pharmacists Owners (UAE) calls it an 'unsolvable situation': many prescribed tranquilizers are currently unavailable. The reason for this is a problem with the delivery. Pharmacies are now allowed to order the medication themselves from the Medicines Inspectorate, but this does not seem to be a solution either due to the small stock. 

When pharmacies order the medication themselves, the question is whether the Social Insurance Bank (SVB) will reimburse the entire amount. It mainly concerns the medicines Lexotan, Dormicum and Rivotril. For Lexotan there is a replaceable agent, bromazepam, but stocks are also running out. The problem has been going on since December. Pharmacies advise patients to contact their GP or psychiatrist, so that a replacement sedative can be found.  

The sedatives are popular and often prescribed because they are fast-acting. For many people, these resources increase the quality of life, which makes people function better. Middelhof informs that ordering in the US is not an option, because they are not authorized to do that. The shortage of sedatives causes a lot of misunderstanding and unrest among patients.