{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,13]],"date-time":"2026-04-13T07:55:20Z","timestamp":1776066920013,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":19,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,13]],"date-time":"2026-04-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1776038400000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,13]],"date-time":"2026-04-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1776038400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Infect Dis Poverty"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>In Italy, praziquantel (PZQ) is not registered for human use and can be imported from European countries where it is authorized, according to a specific ministerial decree. Recent Europe-wide shortages, however, have made this route impractical, resulting in the unavailability of this essential medicine. This editorial summarizes historical gaps in supply, the actions undertaken, and the interim solutions implemented to restore PZQ access in Italy. The Italian experience highlights broader challenges related to essential medicines and underscores the need for coordinated national and European strategies to ensure stable and equitable availability.<\/jats:p>\n                  <jats:p>\n                    <jats:bold>Graphical Abstract<\/jats:bold>\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1186\/s40249-026-01435-8","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,13]],"date-time":"2026-04-13T07:19:36Z","timestamp":1776064776000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Access to praziquantel in Italy: persistent gaps and ongoing responses amid a Europe-wide shortage"],"prefix":"10.1186","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Rosalia","family":"Marrone","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Cristiano","family":"Camponi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Silvia","family":"Cammarata","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Domenico","family":"Di Giorgio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Robert Giovanni","family":"Nistic\u00f2","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Christian","family":"Napoli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,13]]},"reference":[{"issue":"12","key":"1435_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e202300154","DOI":"10.1002\/cmdc.202300154","volume":"18","author":"A Waechtler","year":"2023","unstructured":"Waechtler A, Cezanne B, Maillard D, Sun R, Wang S, Wang J, et al. Praziquantel \u2013 50 years of research. Chem Med Chem. 2023;18(12):e202300154.","journal-title":"Chem Med Chem"},{"key":"1435_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0009189","volume":"15","author":"M Fukushige","year":"2021","unstructured":"Fukushige M, Chase-Topping M, Woolhouse MEJ, Mutapi F. Efficacy of praziquantel has been maintained over four decades (from 1977 to 2018): a systematic review and meta-analysis of factors influencing its efficacy. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021;15:e0009189.","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"key":"1435_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"658","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(24)02814-9","volume":"405","author":"D Buonfrate","year":"2025","unstructured":"Buonfrate D, Ferrari TCA, Adegnika AA, Stothard JR, Gobbi FG. Human schistosomiasis. Lancet. 2025;405:658\u201370.","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"1435_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tmaid.2023.102649","volume":"56","author":"R Marrone","year":"2023","unstructured":"Marrone R, Mazzi C, Ouattara H, Cammilli M, Pontillo D, Perandin F, et al. Screening for neglected tropical diseases and other infections in African refugees and asylum seekers in Rome and Lazio region, Italy. Travel Med Infect Dis. 2023;56:102649.","journal-title":"Travel Med Infect Dis"},{"key":"1435_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"393","DOI":"10.1016\/j.healthpol.2020.12.010","volume":"125","author":"ME Tosti","year":"2021","unstructured":"Tosti ME, Marceca M, Eugeni E, D\u2019Angelo F, Geraci S, Declich S, et al. Health assessment for migrants and asylum seekers upon arrival and while hosted in reception centres: Italian guidelines. Health Policy. 2021;125:393\u2013405.","journal-title":"Health Policy"},{"key":"1435_CR6","volume-title":"Public health guidance on screening and vaccination for infectious diseases in newly arrived migrants within the EU\/EEA","author":"European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control","year":"2018","unstructured":"European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Public health guidance on screening and vaccination for infectious diseases in newly arrived migrants within the EU\/EEA. Stockholm: ECDC; 2018."},{"key":"1435_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"taae107","DOI":"10.1093\/jtm\/taae107","volume":"32","author":"A Comelli","year":"2025","unstructured":"Comelli A, Angheben A, Albonico M, Calleri G, Zammarchi L, Napoli C, et al. Schistosomiasis in migrants: bridging the gap in Italy\u2019s treatment guidelines and access. J Travel Med. 2025;32:taae107.","journal-title":"J Travel Med"},{"key":"1435_CR8","volume-title":"WHO model list of essential medicines, 23rd list","author":"World Health Organization","year":"2023","unstructured":"World Health Organization. WHO model list of essential medicines, 23rd list. Geneva: WHO; 2023."},{"key":"1435_CR9","unstructured":"Ministero della Sanit\u00e0. Decreto Ministeriale 11 febbraio 1997: Modalit\u00e0 di importazione di specialit\u00e0 medicinali registrate all'estero. Gazz Uff. 1997;72. (in Italian)."},{"key":"1435_CR10","volume-title":"Praziquantel: list of nationally authorised medicinal products (PSUSA\/00002503\/202404)","author":"European Medicines Agency","year":"2025","unstructured":"European Medicines Agency. Praziquantel: list of nationally authorised medicinal products (PSUSA\/00002503\/202404). Amsterdam: EMA; 2025."},{"key":"1435_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nmni.2025.101613","volume":"66","author":"AK Lindner","year":"2025","unstructured":"Lindner AK, Popescu C, Perez-Molina JA, D\u00edaz-Men\u00e9ndez M, Rothe C, Asgeirsson H, et al. Shortage of praziquantel in Europe: a clarion call for urgent action. New Microbes New Infect. 2025;66:101613.","journal-title":"New Microbes New Infect"},{"key":"1435_CR12","volume-title":"Medicine Shortages SPOC Working Party meeting summary, 13 May 2025","author":"European Medicines Agency","year":"2025","unstructured":"European Medicines Agency. Medicine Shortages SPOC Working Party meeting summary, 13 May 2025. Amsterdam: EMA; 2025."},{"key":"1435_CR13","volume-title":"Medicine Shortages SPOC Working Party meeting summary, 17 June 2025","author":"European Medicines Agency","year":"2025","unstructured":"European Medicines Agency. Medicine Shortages SPOC Working Party meeting summary, 17 June 2025. Amsterdam: EMA; 2025."},{"key":"1435_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1249","DOI":"10.1007\/s15010-023-02050-7","volume":"51","author":"A Comelli","year":"2023","unstructured":"Comelli A, Genovese C, Gobbi F, Brindicci G, Capone S, Corpolongo A, et al. Schistosomiasis in non-endemic areas: Italian consensus recommendations for screening, diagnosis and management. Infection. 2023;51:1249\u201371.","journal-title":"Infection"},{"key":"1435_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2023.1211208","volume":"11","author":"A Petrella","year":"2023","unstructured":"Petrella A, Fortinguerra F, Cangini A, Pierantozzi A, Trotta F. Access and use of WHO essential medicines in Italy. Front Public Health. 2023;11:1211208.","journal-title":"Front Public Health"},{"key":"1435_CR16","unstructured":"Ministero della Salute. Processo operativo: rilascio di autorizzazione all\u2019importazione di specialit\u00e0 medicinali (POS 10 USMAF-SASN). Roma: Ministero della Salute; 2025. https:\/\/www.salute.gov.it\/new\/sites\/default\/files\/2025-12\/POS_10_importazione_specialit%C3%A0_medicinali_signed.pdf"},{"issue":"6","key":"1435_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/jtm\/taaf054","volume":"32","author":"R Marrone","year":"2025","unstructured":"Marrone R, Albonico M, Comelli A, Zammarchi L, Calleri G, Angheben A, et al. Access to essential drugs for neglected tropical diseases in Italy: the case of ivermectin. J Travel Med. 2025;32(6):taaf054.","journal-title":"J Travel Med"},{"key":"1435_CR18","first-page":"30243","volume":"21","author":"J Boissier","year":"2016","unstructured":"Boissier J, Grech-Angelini S, Webster BL, Allienne JF, Huyse T, Mas-Coma S, et al. Autochthonous urogenital schistosomiasis in Corsica, France: epidemiology and control measures. Euro Surveill. 2016;21:30243.","journal-title":"Euro Surveill"},{"key":"1435_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.lanepe.2026.101616","volume":"63","author":"R Ravinetto","year":"2026","unstructured":"Ravinetto R, Bottieau E, Fusco D, Marrone R, Van Den Broucke S, Tarrafeta-Sayas MB, et al. Inequitable access to medicines for neglected tropical diseases in Europe: health system vulnerabilities and a call for coordinated action. Lancet Region Health. 2026;63:101616.","journal-title":"Lancet Region Health"}],"container-title":["Infectious Diseases of Poverty"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s40249-026-01435-8.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1186\/s40249-026-01435-8","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s40249-026-01435-8.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,13]],"date-time":"2026-04-13T07:19:42Z","timestamp":1776064782000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/10.1186\/s40249-026-01435-8"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,13]]},"references-count":19,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,12]]}},"alternative-id":["1435"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s40249-026-01435-8","relation":{},"ISSN":["2049-9957"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2049-9957","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,13]]},"assertion":[{"value":"20 December 2025","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"19 March 2026","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"13 April 2026","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"Not applicable.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethics approval and consent to participate"}},{"value":"Not applicable.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Consent for publication"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests. The authors declare that they have read and complied with the journal\u2019s policies. In accordance with the guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence, we disclose for transparency that the graphical abstract was generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools.","order":4,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"42"}}