It’s becoming increasingly challenging to find the medications prescribed by doctors as more prescription drugs face shortages.
According to a recent report by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), a record-breaking 323 drugs were in short supply in the first quarter of 2024. This surpasses the previous record set a decade ago. The stakes are high: the unavailability of the right medication is leading doctors to prescribe less effective alternatives, putting patient well-being at risk. Healthcare regulators are urgently seeking solutions to a problem that has been growing since 2021.
Experts point to various reasons for these shortages:
Increased demand, particularly for drugs like Adderall and Ozempic, which are being prescribed more frequently through telehealth.
US regulations favoring generic drugs based on price competition, reducing incentives for pharmaceutical companies to produce them.
Technical challenges in manufacturing injectable drugs like Ozempic, leading to production disruptions.
To address the issue, the Biden administration proposed a $5 billion plan aimed at improving transparency in pharmaceutical supply chains. The plan involves evaluating manufacturers based on production resilience and quality, with incentives for hospitals that work with reliable suppliers and penalties for those that don’t.
However, the ASHP has criticized the proposed penalties, suggesting that hospitals lacking the resources to comply would suffer financially.
Looking ahead, the success of the plan depends on congressional approval. Until then, it remains just a proposal.
