Prescription Drug Shortages Reach Record High In US
Despite efforts to stabilize the availability and cost of medications, prescription drug shortages have reached record highs in the United States
The number marks the highest on record since the industry group began tracking shortage data in 2001.
Fourteen more drugs have experienced a shortage since the organization’s July survey, which found 309 medications in short supply.
The report also highlighted that basic and life-saving drugs are in short supply, including oxytocin, Rho(D) immune globulin, standard-of-care chemotherapy, pain and sedation medications, and attention-deficit/hyperactivit
Classes of drugs in short supply include central nervous system (CNS) drugs, antimicrobials, electrolytes and fluids, chemotherapies, and hormone drugs.
For the most part, manufacturers failed to provide a reason or didn’t know the reason for the shortage, ASHP reported. Fourteen percent of manufacturers reported that supply/demand issues were to blame, 12 percent blamed manufacturing, 12 percent blamed business decisions, and two percent said raw material issues were the main factor.
The constant shortages and supply chain issues have pressured the Biden administration and other lawmakers to help increase domestic production of critical medications. Lawmakers have also launched investigations into why pharmaceutical companies have been unable to manage the bottleneck.
Managing drug shortages is laborious and costly, the ASHP noted. A 2019 analysis estimated the annual labor cost of drug shortages to U.S. hospitals was $359 million. Additionally, purchasing alternative package sizes or concentrations of drugs, sourcing from other suppliers, or sourcing alternative products adds to the hefty cost.
FDA Bears Brunt of Blame
In November 2023, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to respond to the shortage. At the time, the FDA listed 128 drugs as in short supply. That number has since risen to 153.
“Current shortages include important drugs commonly used to treat infections, respiratory illnesses, heart failure, psychiatric conditions, and cancer, and include drugs such as amoxicillin, penicillin, albuterol, Adderall, and cisplatin/carboplatin,” Reps. James Comer (R-Ky.) and Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) wrote to Dr. Robert Califf, the commissioner of Food and Drugs at the FDA, in November 2023.
“The cancer drug shortage has gotten so severe that the FDA temporary [sic] authorized the importation of drugs produced by non-FDA approved Chinese manufacturers. The FDA is failing to ensure vitally important pharmaceuticals remain on pharmacy shelves.”
The committee held a hearing on Thursday, April 11, with Dr. Califf to discuss the FDA’s alleged failures to keep drug prices down.
Mr. Comer urged the FDA to work with multiple federal agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Justice, and Department of Defense, to increase drug production.
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Tom
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There are two reasons for this. People will die without their drugs (part of the depopulation plan) and less supply for a growing demand means much higher prices. As always, Pig Pharma wins and you lose.
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Saeed Qureshi
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The solution to the problem is to consider drugs as chemicals (which they are) and get them from chemical manufacturers. One will get much better quality at far lower prices. The shortage will not only disappear for now but forever.
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