The rising rate of drug shortages in the United States has been framed as a national security threat, according to a report and testimony presented at a Senate homeland security hearing. The report found that drug shortages increased by nearly 30 percent last year compared to 2021, and the average shortage lasted 18 months, with some shortages spanning 15 years.
These shortages include common antibiotics, anesthetics, and sterile fluids to clean intravenous drug tubes. Witnesses at the hearing emphasized the need for more transparency into drug supplies and diversification of manufacturing locations to address the issue.
According to The New York Times, hospitals across the United States face a national security threat due to increased shortages of critical yet inexpensive medications, according to a report presented at a Senate homeland security hearing on Wednesday. The report attributed the shortages to economic drivers, an opaque supply chain, and up to 80-90 percent of specific products are manufactured overseas.
Senator Gary Peters, a Democrat of Michigan and chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, stated that these underlying causes pose severe concerns about providing adequate care to patients and represent significant national security threats.
Dr. Andrew Shuman, a cancer surgeon in Michigan, testified at the hearing, highlighting that shortages in his field have become a tragedy unfolding in slow motion. He also pointed out that hospitals are forced to make “horrible” choices, and patients are given less effective treatments, including chemotherapy regimens that are not their first choice.
The increasing shortage of critical drugs in the U.S. is a significant concern and requires urgent attention. The report’s findings and testimonies from experts in the field suggest that the government must work closely with pharmaceutical companies to ensure an adequate and consistent supply of critical medications to hospitals nationwide. Failure to address the issue could lead to severe consequences, both in terms of patient care and national security.
Dr. Shuman is, a healthcare system leader at the University of Michigan as well as the Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Hospital System, recently spoke out about the dire shortage of essential cancer drugs, stating that it is becoming increasingly difficult to treat patients with the necessary medications. Speaking at a Senate homeland security hearing, he explained that one cheap. He had to make difficult judgments about whether to treat young and senior patients with lung, brain, and testicular cancer after realizing that supplies of the cancer drug etoposide were running short.
“As a doctor who has devoted my life to fighting cancer, it’s hard to express how horrible that is,” Dr. Shuman said, highlighting the difficult choices that doctors and hospitals must make when such shortages occur. While the hospital pharmacist was able to stretch the supply on hand, Dr. Shuman stated that “our pharmacists should not be desperately trying to squeeze out a few last drops when a life may be on the line.”
The hearing was also heard from Vimala Raghavendran, the Vice President of Informatics Product Development for the U.S. Pharmacopeia, a nonprofit organization focused on a safe drug supply. Raghavendran outlined the efforts of the organization to map the dynamics and causes of shortages. According to their research, drugs with low prices, complex manufacturing processes, or quality problems marked by a history of recalls are at a higher risk of shortages.
Drug shortages are becoming increasingly urgent, and experts are calling on the government to work closely with pharmaceutical companies to ensure an adequate and consistent supply of critical medications to hospitals across the country. Dr. Shuman’s testimony and the U.S. Pharmacopeia findings highlight the devastating impact these shortages can have on patient care and the urgent need for action to address this critical issue.
