The US is experiencing a persistent drug shortage problem, with shortages lasting longer than ever before. According to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), 2024 was the worst year on record for drug shortages, with 323 active shortages in the first three months of the year.

Causes of the Shortages

The FDA tracks new shortages, and the number has been decreasing in recent years. However, the number of active shortages has been increasing. The main causes of the shortages are supply-and-demand problems, manufacturing problems, and business decisions. Many essential drugs in shortage are cheap generics, and their profit margins are so thin that makers have little reason to expand or even to enter the market.

Sterile injectable drugs are the most affected, with about half of the shortages being injectable products. These drugs are hard to make and require special sterile factories, often coming from only one or two suppliers. A single problem at one plant can ripple across the whole country.

Impact on Patients

The shortages have a significant impact on patients, particularly those who rely on these essential drugs. Hospitals have to switch patients to backup drugs that may work less well, and pharmacists have to make hard choices about who gets a limited supply. The shortages also force permanent workarounds, with staff having to spend their days hunting for substitutes instead of caring for patients.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.