EU and Irish health authorities are monitoring a potential shortage in medicines as the outbreak of coronavirus hits supply chains in China and India.

An EU executive steering group on shortages is meeting to discuss supply issues and the European Medicines Agency says it is making a list of veterinary and human medicines that are most at risk.

MSD, one of Ireland’s largest animal health suppliers, said it was monitoring the situation closely

China produces a large quantity of raw ingredients for medicines which India uses to manufacture pharmaceuticals for the global market.

MSD, one of Ireland’s largest animal health suppliers, said it was monitoring the situation closely and had contacted its suppliers in China.

It said the situation was fluid but it was “not aware of any significant near-term impacts on the availability of our medicines and vaccines”.

MEP and first vice-president of the European Parliament Mairead McGuinness brought a debate on the issue of shortages to the European Parliament on Wednesday.

“This has been an issue of concern for some time now, with regard to shortages and our dependence on Asia but the coronavirus has added a further pressure, with some factories slowing down production or closing altogether for containment reasons in China,” McGuinness said.

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Potential animal drug shortages being monitored

China is the source of key raw ingredients in most medicines and the outbreak of the coronavirus has led to a drop in production.