Drug Shortages Reach , All-Time High in US, , Pharmacists Say.<br />According to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and <br />the Utah Drug Information Service.<br />the first quarter of 2024 saw <br />323 active drug shortages, Fox News reports.<br />The previous record of <br />320 shortages was set in 2014.<br />ASHP CEO Paul Abramowitz said, <br />"some of the most worrying shortages involve generic sterile injectable medications," .<br />... "including cancer chemotherapy drugs and emergency medications stored in hospital crash carts and procedural areas." .<br />... "including cancer chemotherapy drugs and emergency medications stored in hospital crash carts and procedural areas." .<br />Abramowitz went on to say that the <br />"ongoing national shortages of therapies for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder also remain <br />a serious challenge for clinicians and patients.".<br />A separate ASHP report said that "the most severe and persistent shortages are driven by economic factors that undermine investment in manufacturing capacity, manufacturing quality and supply chain reliability.".<br />These economic challenges are <br />driven by extreme price competition <br />among generic manufacturers, ASHP, via report.<br />ASHP will continue to engage <br />with policymakers regularly as we guide <br />efforts to draft and pass new legislation <br />to address drug shortages and continue <br />to strongly advocate on behalf of our <br />members for solutions that work, ASHP CEO Paul Abramowitz, via statement.<br />Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a white paper recommending tactics for Congress to help.<br />With today’s white paper, <br />HHS offers solutions and stands <br />ready to work with Congress to <br />ensure no patient faces the devastating <br />consequences of drug shortages or <br />goes without needed medicines, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, via press release
