Drug shortages: Can we resolve that problem?

Looking for the Treatment for Drug Shortages: Not a Simple Prescription

“…The problem of drug shortages is not confined to the United States, as documented in recent reports from Europe and Canada. [6][7][8][9][10] Although their health care systems differ from that in the United States, many of the root causes of the international shortages appear to be identical to ours. Hall et al 8 described how regulatory action against a Canadian manufacturing plant and later a fire at the facility resulted in one company significantly reducing the production of intravenous agents used in anesthesia, critical care medicine, and pain medicine.…”

Why drug shortages are an ethical issue

“…As others have noted, addressing drug shortages will require "strong action" to promote legislative change, as well as local and international cooperation, transparency and accountability among stakeholders (including clinicians, policymakers, regulators, payers, patients and manufacturers) in both the prevention and management of drug shortages. 1,2,7,9,12,21,28,29 Unless value conflicts are explicitly acknowledged and managed, such cooperation is likely to be thwarted.…”

Why drug shortages are an ethical issue

“…As others have noted, addressing drug shortages will require "strong action" to promote legislative change, as well as local and international cooperation, transparency and accountability among stakeholders (including clinicians, policymakers, regulators, payers, patients and manufacturers) in both the prevention and management of drug shortages. 1,2,7,9,12,21,28,29 Unless value conflicts are explicitly acknowledged and managed, such cooperation is likely to be thwarted. sites, thus increasing the risk of manufacturing problems and drug shortages.…”

“…[2][3][4]27 The relationship between regulatory processes and drug shortages is more contentious, and there is a debate as to whether regulatory actions (or lack thereof) have contributed to drug shortages. 3,28 While this second thread (with its focus on systemic failings) might seem less morally charged than the first (with its focus on industry misconduct), it is important to bear in mind that these systemic failings are themselves the result of what we, as a society, have decided that we want from our industries, our governments, and our health systems. We have, for example, decided to value access to affordable generic medicines, to allow our industries the freedom to decide what they do and do not manufacture and how they distribute these goods, and to strike a certain balance between aggressiveness and leniency in our regulatory processes.…”