02/04/2026
For too long, antibiotics have been purchased based almost entirely on price. And while affordability matters, this race to the lowest offer has created deep structural challenges.
As Simon Goeller points out, constant margin erosion weakens production capacity, reduces diversification and ultimately puts long‑term supply resilience at risk.
It raises an important question:
👉 Should a full treatment cycle for an essential antibiotic really cost less than a pack of chewing gum?
When prices drop that low, the system is essentially saying that resilience, sustainability and security of supply don’t matter — when in reality, they matter more than ever.
If Europe wants true sovereignty in essential medicines, procurement systems must evolve to reward:
✅ resilience
✅ sustainability
✅ geographic diversification
…not just price alone.
A critical conversation for everyone working to strengthen healthcare systems and ensure reliable, uninterrupted access for patients.