Drug shortages are a growing concern for public health and national security. The shortage of critical drugs can lead to potentially life-threatening consequences for patients and can have cascading effects on healthcare systems, resulting in delayed treatment, increased healthcare costs, and reduced access to care. The causes of drug shortages are complex and multifactorial, and they can be exacerbated by natural disasters, geopolitical tensions, and pandemics. In addition to the public health risks, drug shortages can also pose a threat to national security, particularly when critical drugs are manufactured overseas, leaving countries vulnerable to shortages and stockouts in emergency situations. Addressing drug shortages requires a coordinated effort from all stakeholders, including manufacturers, regulators, healthcare providers, and policymakers.
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| drug shortages can also pose a threat to national security |
Report Finds Worsening Drug Shortages in the US
A report released by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee highlights the growing concern over the increasing shortage of critical medication in the United States. The report, put together by Democrats, states that the shortage of new drugs in the country has grown by almost 30% from 2021 to 2022. The shortage of essential drugs has reached a peak of 295 at the end of last year.
Long-Term Drug Shortages
While the average drug shortage lasts for about 1.5 years, more than 15 critical medications have been in shortage for over a decade. These medications are used to treat cancer, asthma, pain, and children's cold and flu. Most of these drugs are injectable and are more than twice as likely to experience shortages compared to oral or topical medications. Nearly a third of the critical medications experiencing a shortage are antibiotics.
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Factors Contributing to Drug Shortages
Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), who chairs the Homeland Security Committee, stated that drug shortages are not new, and there are several factors that contribute to the problem. These factors include economic drivers that lead to a lack of manufacturers willing to enter or to remain in the market, or invest in quality manufacturing systems. The federal government's poor visibility into the pharmaceutical supply chain and an overreliance on foreign sources for drug materials also contribute to the shortages.
National Security Threat
Sen. Peters also stated that drug shortages pose a national security threat. In 2019, Peters released a report stating that nearly 80% of the manufacturing facilities producing key drug ingredients are located outside of the country. Between 90% and 95% of generic sterile injectable drugs depend on key materials and drug substances from China and India.
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Impact on Patients
The drug shortages have caused treatment delays for patients, resulting in health care providers turning to alternatives that are sometimes less effective. Patients with certain health concerns, like cancer, don’t even have the option of an alternative medication.
Recommendations
The report includes several recommendations to address the problem of drug shortages. These include improving investment in domestic manufacturing so companies don’t move abroad, encouraging the Food and Drug Administration to create a database for the agency to better monitor materials in the supply chain, and requiring manufacturers to report new export restrictions or increases in demand.