The United States (US) is experiencing a higher number of active drug shortages than ever before, according to the recent reports.
As per as CNN, between January and March 2024, there were 323 medications in short supply, according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and Utah Drug Information Service. This surpassed the previous record of 320 shortages in 2014.
Dr. Paul Abramowitz, CEO of ASHP, stated in a blog post on Thursday that “It’s long past time to put an end to drug shortages”.
"All drug classes are vulnerable to shortage. Some of the most worrying shortages involve generic sterile injectable medications, including cancer chemotherapy drugs and emergency medications stored in hospital crash carts and procedural areas”, he further added.
In addition to the 32 chemotherapy drugs facing shortages, the top five categories with the most shortages are central nervous system stimulants, antimicrobials, hormone agents, and intravenous fluids.
The drug shortage database, managed by ASHP and the University of Utah, relies on voluntary reports from healthcare professionals, patients, and others.
These reports are then verified with manufacturers. This database often includes more drugs than what the US Food and Drug Administration considers to be in shortage because it takes into account broader effects on healthcare providers and patients.
The average shortage affects at least 500,000 patients, many of whom are older adults, as reported by the US Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.
Rising demand can lead to shortages, as seen in recent instances of weight loss drug shortages.
However, manufacturing and quality problems, such as gaps in the supply chain and product discontinuations, are generally the primary reasons behind shortages.
