Project description
Understanding medicine shortages and drug supply chain dynamics
In 2023, all European Commission countries reported medicine shortages, a growing global issue that affects healthcare and public health. International organisations have stressed the need for further research into the interconnected causes of these shortages. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the MEDSHORT project aims to enhance our understanding of supply chain dynamics by examining medicine shortages in California and Catalonia. The project will analyse how drug agencies collect data on shortages and explore the experiences of various actors within the supply chain. The research will identify vulnerabilities and daily challenges in the pharmaceutical supply chain, with a focus on how political priorities influence responses to these issues.
Objective
In 2023, all European Commission countries reported medicine shortages, recognised globally as a systemic problem affecting patients, healthcare systems, markets, public health, and the environment. International bodies highlight insufficient research on the interdependent causes of these shortages. The MEDSHORT project addresses this gap by responding to EU and FDA calls to understand supply chain dynamics beyond national and product-specific approaches. MEDSHORT explores different layers of the problem through a multi-site, multi-level study using mixed methodologies. Based on comparative insights from California (United States) and Catalonia (Spain), MEDSHORT examines both contexts and their strategies for managing shortages. By analysing how drug agencies mobilise knowledge about medicines shortages and the experiences of various supply chain actors and experts in both countries, the project aims to identify vulnerabilities and everyday frictions within the pharmaceutical supply chain. The project investigates how political priorities shape responses to these challenges, focusing on anticipatory strategies. This research sheds light on underexplored areas in the anthropology of pharmaceuticals, science and technology studies, and the social study of logistics, including the role of pharmacies, manufacturers, distributors, and the broader social implications of supply chain configurations. Ultimately, MEDSHORT seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the social dimensions of drug shortages, inform EU policy on mitigating inequalities in medicine access, and contribute to building more robust and equitable pharmaceutical supply chains.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs
- social sciences sociology anthropology
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
08007 Barcelona
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.