US Drug Shortages Hit Record High Since 2001: ASHP Report
1. The number of active drug shortages in the United States has reached an all-time high since 2001, with 323 drugs affected as of the first quarter of 2024.
2. This surpasses the previous peak of 320 drugs in shortage, recorded in 2014.
3. Drug classes most affected include central nervous system stimulants, antimicrobials, hormone agents, chemotherapy drugs, and intravenous fluids.
4. The average drug shortage lasts approximately 1.5 years, and more than half of these shortages have persisted for over two years.
5. The Biden administration has proposed policies to prevent drug shortages, including collaborations between manufacturers and hospitals to bring transparency to the drug market and incentivize investment in resilient and diverse supply chains.
6. The ASHP has expressed concerns about certain aspects of the proposal, particularly financial penalties for hospitals that lack the resources to comply with the recommendations.
7. The FDA currently lists 153 drugs as actively in short supply.
8. The issue has prompted action from lawmakers, with the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability holding a public hearing to address the shortage crisis.
9. The American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO) has called for more action from Congress in areas like payment and manufacturing.
10. The White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience aims to leverage the Defense Production Act (DPA) to make more essential medicines in the U.S. and circumvent future drug shortages.
Sources:
1. CNN: [Drug shortages reach record high in US](https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/12/health/drug-shortage-record-high/index.html)
2. Fierce Pharma: [US drug shortages reach all-time high](https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/us-drug-shortages-reach-all-time-high-2001-according-ashp)
3. BioSpace: [US Drug Shortages Reach All-Time High Since 2001: Report](https://www.biospace.com/article/us-drug-shortages-reach-all-time-high-since-2001-report-/)
4. CNBC: [Healthy Returns: U.S. drug shortages reach record high](https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/16/healthy-returns-us-drug-shortages-reach-record-high-hitting-wegovy.html)
5. Axios: [Drug shortages reach all-time high](https://www.axios.com/2024/04/11/drug-shortage-record-high)