The regional governments of Rioja and Baleares are already experiencing difficulty paying outstanding pharmaceutical bills. And Castilla-La Mancha owes 125 million euros. Such delinquent payments could extend to other regional governments as budget pressure increases.
Pharmacists who work in the hinterlands or have just acquired their licensing in recent years do not have the cash flow or capital to cover the shortage, and distributors are not prepared to send out more drugs. Shutdowns or shortages are possible. If shortages occur, hospitals would be forced to supply the drugs.
The federal government has announced an ICO agreement (ICO is an organization that works with lenders to finance projects and liquidity needs for self-employed and small business owners) for the local governments, but the regional governments will have to scrounge for funds. They should prioritize.
