{"id":12443,"date":"2018-06-18T01:11:29","date_gmt":"2018-06-18T01:11:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/?p=12443"},"modified":"2018-06-19T01:17:33","modified_gmt":"2018-06-19T01:17:33","slug":"drug-shortages-pose-a-public-health-crisis-in-the-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/drug-shortages-pose-a-public-health-crisis-in-the-us\/","title":{"rendered":"Drug shortages pose a public health crisis in the US"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sharona Hoffman<\/a>, Case Western Reserve University<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

On June 12, the American Medical Association announced that drug shortages<\/a> pose an urgent public health crisis. This crisis should be of concern to all Americans.<\/p>\n

The Food and Drug Administration defines a drug shortage<\/a> as a \u201cperiod of time when the demand or projected demand for a medically necessary drug in the U.S. exceeds its supply.\u201d All too often, a shortage means that doctors cannot give the right drugs to patients when needed.<\/p>\n

Serious drug shortages are not a new phenomenon. The FDA recognized their prevalence and established a Drug Shortage Program<\/a> back in 1999. The problem, however, persists.<\/p>\n

In short supply<\/h2>\n

Currently, the U.S. is short on 182 drugs and medical supplies<\/a>, according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. The list includes IV bags<\/a>, injectable morphine<\/a> and other powerful painkillers, anesthetics<\/a>, antibiotics<\/a>, electrolytes<\/a>, cancer drugs<\/a> and much more. All of these are of critical importance to patients with serious illnesses.<\/p>\n