(Critical) Drug shortages set to reach record levels

[RamboLiberal]

Source: USA Today

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Doctors, hospitals and patients across the USA are grappling with a record number of drug shortages, causing them to delay treatment, postpone surgery or make do with costlier and less effective substitutes.

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Hospitals are running out of drugs used in everything from cancer to surgery, anesthesia and intravenous feeding, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

So far this year, 180 drugs have been in short supply. Virtually all U.S. hospitals say they've been affected, and 82% say the problem has delayed care for patients, says the American Hospital Association.

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"If a drug is on patent and expensive and there is a big profit margin, then companies have an incentive to make sure there is an adequate supply," Link says. "If there's a problem, there is an incentive to correct it in a hurry. If there's not much profit, the incentives to rapidly fix problems aren't there."



Read more: http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/story/2011/08/Drug-shortages-set-to-reach-record-levels/49984446/1

[hamsterjill]

1. Always the Almighty Dollar, of course.

I had noticed this happening recently with some veterinary medicines. For instance, I saw something recently that indicated that immiticide (a heartworm treatment for dogs) is in short supply.

Now, with this article, it appears this will be the "norm" for the future.

This is a very sad commentary on true greed!

[InkAddict]

15. Our vet has indicated that Temaril-P has not been available

since April. It's a corticosteroid/antihistamine combo. Orders for two separate pills given instead.

[CoffeeCat]

2. Ughhhhh!

Until this disgusting, nonsensical, profit-centric model of healthcare--is truly reformed in this country--we will
continue to see the greed of psychopathic CEOs dictating our quality of care.

There you have it. One more example of what happens when lobbyists and revenue-driven corporate mucky mucks from
the pharmaceutical and health-care industries--are allowed to dictate what medical care we receive.

It's absolutely insane. It's also sad that Obama allowed this tragic legacy to continue with no meaningful reform.

[Plucketeer]

14. It's not just insane...

It's obscene! Where are the Rethugs hollering "Greatest Nation on Earth!"? I hope this ridiculous situation grays a few more of Obama's hairs. "Public Option" my ass. :grr: Here's the "fruits" of corporate embracement, Mr. President.

[Yo_Mama]

26. Most of these shortages originate elsewhere

These drugs are rarely made in the US.

Basically it is a problem with poor profit margins and rising input costs.

[Lars39]

3. Found out yesterday there's a B12 shortage.

[drm604]

8. I need monthly B12 injections.

Where did you hear this?

[kas125]

10. So do I. I buy my own now that I don't have insurance and I sure

hope they don't run out in Canada, too!

[drm604]

16. My insurance won't cover it.

Even though I was experiencing neurological symptoms my insurance won't cover it. I haven't fought them on it since it costs less than my copay anyway.

I have 1 or 2 months supply left so hopefully the shortage will ease up by then.

[Lars39]

12. Family member whose doctor couldn't get B12.

Had to write prescription, get it filled, then take back to doctor to be given the dosage. The pharmacy wouldn't fill the full prescription either.

[kas125]

22. In Canada, it's a non-prescription item so I order mine online. I

bought a bottle of injectible b-12 and a hundred syringes for about what it would cost to go to a doctor to get a prescription.

[trud]

13. B-12 shortage

B-12 is given by injection to cats with various GI problems. A friend recently had to drive to a neighboring state to find a pharmacy with it in stock.

[glinda]

19. Lucky I just got some for my Renal Failure cat.... geeeze....

[bemildred]

4. Sounds like a underdeveloped country, yes? nt

[Jello Biafra]

5. Years ago, this was the complaint about health care in Canada...

maybe us Americans will go to Canada now for our care....hell, we go to India now for cheaper operations.....

[chill_wind]

6. Unbelievable.

[elehhhhna]

7. why produce something when your money can be invested

OFFSHORE, making bets and hedging and godknowswhatelse and enjoying your ten frikin year anniversary of your bush tax cuts?

[kas125]

9. My 82 year old dad had surgery in January and after years of

telling patients never to bring drugs to the hospital, this time they asked him to bring his own prescriptions with him. Every other time he had to be in the hospital he'd complain that they charged him for pills he already had at home and he'd tell the nurses how unfair it was that they wouldn't just let him take his own. This time, bringing his pills to the hospital was part of the pre-surgery instructions. They took the bag from him and the nurses gave him the pills, but they were the ones he brought from home. I wondered why the change, because they'd charge more for one pill than his copay for a three month supply. Maybe it's because they just don't have everyone's pills anymore.

[russspeakeasy]

11. It is Always the money... Always the money... Always the money.

Why are people confused when this happens....follow the money...:spank:

[glinda]

20. +1

[benld74]

17. ANOTHER POORLY written story,,,,,,

Get the people pissed off first, then vaguly explain WHY the drugs are in short supply, while mentioning the FDA in a short sentence.
I agree with the POST earlier, ITS THE MONEY

[saras]

18. All we need to do is rein in the intellectual property fanaticism a bit

If a corporation won't produce what is needed, others have a right to, intellectual "property" be damned. There's a reason that patents require you to publicize your design - and that's so that others can improve on it and work their way around your patent if possible. That's progress, and holding everybody else back so that you can make more money isn't.

There are plenty of companies, and plenty of people capable of starting companies, to meed these needs if the law wasn't in the way.

And, FWIW, the last time I checked the Silicon Valley surplus stores, biotech equipment had largely replaced electronics. I predict that within a decade we will be seeing people busted for making illegal drugs that don't get people high, but heal diseases.

[trud]

23. intellectual property

A lot of this stuff was developed with taxpayer money.

[Yo_Mama]

27. You've got it almost completely backwards

The stuff that's on patent is generally available. It is the generics with low profit margins that are mostly having the supply problems.

There is also a supply problem with precursor components (inputs used to manufacture the drugs).

[lovuian]

21. it is why we need to have Universal system and do our

own research like the other countries

Pharmaceuticals are only out for one thing Profits

[trud]

24. Granville Pharmacy www.onlinecanadianpharmacy.com

That's a Canadian pharmacy that as far as I know is legitimate. They require prescriptions. I used to order Prevacid from them before the manufacturer stopped selling to Canadian pharmacies that sold to US patients. I started ordering from them when some US news network did an article on a midwestern state that had okayed its employees ordering from several Canadian pharmacies, one of which this was.

[trud]

25. the government should start manufacturing these

It would be a foot in the door. As I noted above, a lot of these are developed with taxpayer money, trials, etc. then the companies make vast profits.

We need a law that says if a company doesn't produce an adequate supply for a certain period of time, the government gets the license to produce it. In my dreams, of course.