Pharmacies are reporting drug shortages due to problems with the company responsible for delivering them.

The Keshet and Kan-11 TV channels reported a serious shortage of medicines in pharmacies, including vital ones for people with chronic diseases. The reason for the shortage was the transition of the distribution company Novolog to a new computer system for placing orders, logistics and financial management.

The Novolog company, which is responsible for the purchase and distribution of drugs to pharmacies, warned partners in advance that a transition to a new computer system would be carried out during the period from December 24 to January 6. But the system for receiving orders and distributing them was not fully operational by January 9.

A source in the healthcare system told Mako website correspondent Or Adar that the Novolog company cannot be reached by phone, and its representatives do not respond to emails.

David Papo, head of the pharmacists’ union, which represents 650 pharmacies, believes that Novolog should have increased the number of telephone operators and drivers, as well as strengthened technical support for pharmacy workers, before switching to the new system, but did not do so. He noted that the Novolog company promised to accept orders and distribute life-saving drugs in a “manual mode” during the “transition” period, but it is completely unclear which drugs are included in this category, since even those drugs for which the order was accepted are delivered partially.

From the Novolog company, Kan-11 and Keshet-12 TV channels were informed that clients were warned in advance about the transition to a new SAP system and were familiarized with the plan for closing the old system and launching a new one so that they could prepare for this. The company says it has increased the number of orders it accepts and delivers before launching the new system. Judging by the response, the problem arose, in part, due to the fact that many pharmacies are trying to order through the old system. At the same time, Novolog said in a statement to the media that “the company is working to return to full operation in the near future.”