In 2023, many medicines were hard to get in Germany. In the Bundestag, the CDU/CSU opposition said that fever syrups, antibiotics, insulin and cancer drugs were hardly available anywhere. The government answered with a law against drug shortages, known as the ALBVVG. Its draft required manufacturers to keep three months of stock of drugs sold under discount contracts with the health insurers. The final law doubled this to six months. Wholesalers must keep four weeks of medicines for children. Hospital pharmacies must increase their stocks of intravenous drugs and antibiotics for intensive care. An early warning system for coming shortages was also set up. The Bundesrat approved the law in July 2023.