More-than-typical shortages of common over-the-counter and prescription drugs have caused headaches for sick Americans and those managing chronic diseases.
Public attention has focused on widespread shortages linked to increased demand for medicines used to treat common respiratory diseases, such as flu and respiratory syncytial virus. Those ailments spiked nationwide after a pandemic hiatus.
"Demand shortages have been kind of a new challenge for us since the pandemic," said Valerie Jensen, associate director of the drug shortage staff at the FDA. In addition to shortages of cold and flu medication, Jensen pointed to surging demand last year for Adderall and the diabetes drug Ozempic. “We've had some unusual circumstances.”
Most shortages were caused by supply-chain issues for which public policy solutions might exist. But while long-term changes might help the supply chain function better, they wouldn't necessarily stop a real-time shortage in its tracks.
Erin Fox, a senior pharmacy director at University of Utah Health who directs its Drug Information and Support Services, says her team is tracking 290 active shortages with only a handful spurred by consumer demand.
What’s going on:
— Supply disruptions: Contamination at manufacturing facilities is among the most common problems, although delays and discontinuations also contribute, according to the FDA.
Supply shortages are often linked to companies cutting corners, said Ilisa Bernstein, who spent the past 10 years of her more than 30-year FDA tenure dealing with shortage-related compliance issues.
“When you cut corners, you have problems, and when you have problems, you have to fix them,” said Bernstein, now interim CEO at the American Pharmacists Association. Fixing those problems often means shutting down the manufacturing line.
— Haves and have-nots: Some of the drug shortages are actually signs of misallocation. Certain parts of the country might have more supply than they need, while other parts of the country are low on or out of stock. Reallocation is easy enough for big national pharmacies like Walmart but harder for hospitals or independent pharmacies.
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