Swiss say they have 4-month stock of meds

greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread

http://www.millennium.ch/cgi-bin/millennium/timp_mill?SID=6135&TPL=reports/report_1999_04_30-en.html&

Medicines: The availability of the medicines is guaranteed. The stocks at all levels of distribution (manufacturers/importers, wholesalers, chemists, druggists, hospitals, doctors) are sufficient and include reserve stocks for at least 4 months. This ensures that no problems can occur with the supply of medicines. It is therefore not advisable for the above mentioned distribution points and the public/patients to build up stocks.

[There's information on other issues at the soite.]

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), September 02, 1999

Answers

Git,

Thanks and keep up the good work. Your intelligence gathering efforts are appreciated. We need to get a sense of what's going on worldwide.

I wonder why it is not advisable to build up stocks if they have a four month reserve stock. Could it be that they don't have four months of reserve stock... or, maybe that... that's all the system can handle and those reserves will be depleted and unrenewed in a rush for meds?

Sincerely, Stan Faryna

-- Stan Faryna (info@giglobal.com), September 02, 1999.


Thanks Old Git. I have taken care of that issue but many will not and being in a pharmacy during December will be far from pleasant I believe there will be panic over medications.

-- Mike Lang (webflier@erols.com), September 02, 1999.

Thanks for the info Git. I can't help but wonder, even if there is a 4 month stock of meds. What happens when the pipeline is empty due to the manufacturers having problems? Some of them will not be compliant and make it thru. And, not to be left out, they are in some high risk countries for grid and water problems. So even if the company is ready, will they be able to manufacture anything?

Also, with the increase demand for med stocking up, even just a little, will deplete that 4 months worth of meds down to...what? How fast can they restock with no power or machines down due to Y2K glitches?

Keepin' on, Keepin' on, and aimlessly wondering about 'stuff' ;->

-- Sammie Davis (sammie0nospam@hotmail.com), September 03, 1999.


Stereotypically speaking, the Swiss are an extremely orderly and tidy people. Clocks are never wrong, trains are never late, and if you happen to drop a candy wrapper, a dozen Swiss will tap you on the shoulder to let you know. Hence, I think you'll find there will be no panic (it's very untidy) and their system simply will not permit shortages.

What struck me is that the Swiss are willing to let people know they have a four-month supply in thepipeline.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), September 03, 1999.


The Swiss already have their Y2K supplies because they are land-locked and can never tell when they will need to live off their stuff for a few years.

It wasn't just for the gold payoff that the Nazis never invaded Switzerland. The Swiss would have kicked their butts.

-- nothere nothere (notherethere@hotmail.com), September 03, 1999.



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