This year at Arendalsuka — Norway’s largest gathering for politics, business, NGOs, academia, and the public — CAMRIA was in the spotlight. Nina Langeland and Magne Sydnes from the University of Bergen took the initiative to host the event Har Norge rett medisin for å takle legemiddelmangelen? (Does Norway have the right medicine to address the medicine shortage?).
The session drew a large and engaged audience, eager to discuss one of the country’s most pressing health challenges. Alongside Nina and Magne, Trygve Ottersen (Director, DMP) and Monica Larsen (Legemiddelindustriforeningen) joined the panel, bringing valuable perspectives from both public and industry sectors.
At the heart of the conversation was a sobering fact: every day, many patients in Norway leave pharmacies without the medicines prescribed to them. With most critical medicines and vaccines imported — primarily from India and China — Norway faces a real dependency risk, especially in times of crisis.
The panel explored government measures already in motion, but also stressed that if Norway wants its health industry to become both self-sufficient and a driver of growth, investment in education and research is essential.
Questions that sparked debate included:
- Just how critical is Norway’s medicine shortage?
- Can we afford to rely so heavily on other countries for life-saving drugs?
- What kind of research, education, and industry incentives are needed to secure sustainable production at home?
The discussion was lively, thought-provoking, and a reminder of the work still ahead.
You can read more about the event here.