Posted 4/12/2024, 7:31:00 PM
Record Drug Shortages in US Hit Patients Hard, Stir Debate on Solutions
- Record high of 323 drugs currently in active shortage in the US, according to pharmacy groups tracking since 2001
- Shortages hitting all drug classes, especially sterile injectables like chemo and emergency meds
- Average shortage lasts 1.5 years and affects over 500k patients
- Manufacturing and quality issues more often to blame than demand
- Pharmacists have "serious concerns" about new federal proposals to address shortages, say more action needed on root causes
