Animatronic pets are being delivered to socially isolated older New Yorkers to combat loneliness.

The state's Office for the Aging has distributed over 31,500 robotic pets to elderly adults since 2018.

A pilot study found that 70% of recipients reported reduced loneliness after receiving robotic pets.

Robotic pets provide companionship to the elderly through realistic sounds and movements.

Social isolation and loneliness increase the risk of health issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, and depression in older adults.

Reducing social isolation can improve health outcomes for older adults.

Robotic pet companions, such as dogs and cats, are being used in elderly care and social isolation interventions.

Robotic pets can help seniors with dementia by improving cardiovascular health and reducing anxiety, loneliness, and depression.

The robotic pets have soft imitation fur and sensors that allow them to respond to presence, touch, and their environment.

Residents can form strong bonds with robotic pets, improving their mood, appetite, and social interactions.

Elderly people in the US are using robotic pets like ElliQ to alleviate loneliness.

ElliQ, a robot by Intuition Robotics, uses AI to remember users' interests and customize chat content.

One in three US adults over 45 feel lonely, a National Academies report found.

Robotic pets, like Joy for All, can comfort aging adults with Alzheimer's and dementia who face social isolation.

Robotic pets can help reduce anxiety and agitation in people with Alzheimer's and dementia, providing companionship.

The Japanese public views robotic pets, like AIBO, as a way to alleviate elderly loneliness.

University of Glasgow scientists identified seven key factors in the human-animal bond to inform robot development and mimic dog-like behavior.

Animatronic pets are being delivered to socially isolated older New Yorkers to combat loneliness.

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Cure For Loneliness? Robotic Pets Going Out To Thousands Of Socially Isolated NYers

Call it four-legged companionship without the need for potty training.

Thousands of animatronic pets are on their way to older, socially isolated New Yorkers in an effort to combat what experts describe as a crisis of loneliness.

The state’s Office for the Aging (OFA) announced Sunday, June 3, that Rhode Island-based Ageless Innovation is delivering another 4,725 robotic pets and games to elderly adults through New York State’s aging network.

Since 2018, OFA has distributed more than 31,500 of the plush, lifelike pets, which are designed to make realistic sounds and movements, to those assessed as socially isolated and lonely.

A pilot study conducted in 2018 found that 70 percent of recipients reported a reduction or significant reduction in loneliness, plus a 75 percent decrease in pain.

The state’s intergenerational game project, Joy for All, includes Scrabble Bingo, Trivial Pursuit Generations, and Game of Life Generations. Through a partnership with Hasbro launched in 2023, the games have been tailored to an older crowd by featuring larger fonts and intergenerational gameplay and storylines.

“We’ve initiated multiple innovative solutions, bolstered by technology, to connect people, provide companionship, and significantly reduce isolation and its consequences,” said OFA Director Greg Olsen. “Proudly, I can say data shows our efforts are working and exceeding expectations. “

Studies have shown that social isolation and loneliness put older adults at an increased risk of a number of health issues, including high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, depression, cognitive decline, and even death, according to the National Council on Aging.

Learn more about New York’s Animatronic Pet Initiative, including eligibility, on the Office for the Aging website

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For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

The state's Office for the Aging has distributed over 31,500 robotic pets to elderly adults since 2018.

A pilot study found that 70% of recipients reported reduced loneliness after receiving robotic pets.

What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

Robotic pets provide companionship to the elderly through realistic sounds and movements.

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

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What can Dynamic 1, a robotic dog by Tecno, do?

many features to enhance owner interaction

What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

Social isolation and loneliness increase the risk of health issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, and depression in older adults.

What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

Reducing social isolation can improve health outcomes for older adults.

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

Robotic pet companions, such as dogs and cats, are being used in elderly care and social isolation interventions.

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“She’s a good girl”: Robot pets help Lehigh Valley senior residents live longer, happier lives

Gathered in a semi-circle, a group of women in wheelchairs petted the newly adopted cats and dogs sitting on their laps Wednesday afternoon, talking softly to their new companions. The dogs barked and leaned in for pets, the cats meowed and rolled over for scratches — almost like they were real.

But the animals were robots, a fact that wasn’t lost on many of the women in the Fellowship Manor sitting room.

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One resident at the Whitehall Township senior living community, Jackie, named her small golden retriever robot Goldie. Jackie said she grew up on a farm in Palmer Township with plenty of dogs but never one that looked like Goldie.

“She’s a good girl — she just sits there and doesn’t make a sound unless you talk to her,” Jackie said.

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That was one of 20 pairings made at the adoption event at Fellowship Community where residents, primarily those with dementia, picked out one of 20 robotic pets — 10 dogs and 10 cats — to serve as their companions.

Animal therapy can be beneficial for seniors, especially those with dementia. Benefits for seniors include improved cardiovascular health, better quality of life and decreased feelings of anxiety, loneliness and depression.

However, it’s not reasonable or safe in most care settings to introduce real animals, according to Mary Kay McMahon, president and CEO of Fellowship Community.

“Because of their own care needs most of our residents couldn’t take care of animals and our staff don’t have the time to take care of them,” McMahon said.

But research has found that use of robotic pets still offers a number of benefits to seniors with dementia, including improved well-being, mood and quality of life. McMahon said there are also benefits for seniors who were caregivers for much of their lives.

The adoption event was a surprise for many residents. Jackie said she didn’t know they would be giving out robot pets until about 10 a.m. Wednesday when she was asked if she wanted one.

Another resident, Elaine, said she rolled into the room not knowing what was going on but asked if she could have a golden retriever robot, like Jackie’s. Elaine promptly named her new friend Dog, pronounced “D-O-G.”

“I always wanted to name a dog Dog,” Elaine said.

McMahon said they tried to match the animals with residents based on their preferences. Once they made a match, the robotic companions were theirs to keep.

McMahon said staff have seen how the robot pets can help. Just before the pandemic, Fellowship Community bought a handful of robotic pets for residents. She said the recipients all saw improvements in their mood, appetites and social interactions, and reduced anxiety and depression. The robot pets even reminded some of real dogs or cats they had owned, she said, which helps in the long term with their conditions.

“It gives them a sense of purpose,” McMahon said. “They feel like they are taking care of something.”

It helps that the robots are very lifelike — the imitation fur is soft and built-in sensors allow the companion pets to respond to a person’s presence and touch as well as react to the environment.

Each one costs a little more than $100, which were paid for via a Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors 100th Anniversary Community Charity Grant.

Though Jackie and Elaine both said they knew their dogs weren’t “real,” they both remarked how Goldie and Dog moved their head when petted and how soft they were.

“She’s going to be a good pet,” Jackie said.

Morning Call reporter Leif Greiss can be reached at 610-679-4028 or lgreiss@mcall.com.

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For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

Robotic pets can help seniors with dementia by improving cardiovascular health and reducing anxiety, loneliness, and depression.

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

The robotic pets have soft imitation fur and sensors that allow them to respond to presence, touch, and their environment.

What can Dynamic 1, a robotic dog by Tecno, do?

many features to enhance owner interaction

Residents can form strong bonds with robotic pets, improving their mood, appetite, and social interactions.

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

The AI Cloud plan allows robotic dog Aibo to do what?

make interactions increasingly personal and unique

What can Dynamic 1, a robotic dog by Tecno, do?

many features to enhance owner interaction

What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

Elderly people in the US are using robotic pets like ElliQ to alleviate loneliness.

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Cover Story / Silver Hair Living Alone and Not Lonely "Robots" as Old Companion
When Microsoft founder Bill Gates published his outlook for 2024 earlier this year, he predicted that the application of artificial intelligence (AI) would accelerate in the future and fundamentally change areas such as work, health care and education.
For Joyce Loaiza, a retired office worker living in Florida, Gates ’ s prophecy is now a formality; the 81-year-old living alone, whenever she returns to her Silver Hair Community apartment, a friendly female voice will chat with her and say hello to her for a good day.
A few miles away, Deanna Dezern, 83, was comforted by the same voice when her friend died.
In central New York, it plays games and music for Marie Broadbent, 92, who is blind and receiving hospice care.
In Washington, it helped 83-year-old Jan Worrell make new friends.
USA ElliQ Customizable Chat Content
The women were among the first to receive a robot in the United States, according to officials from Intuition Robotics, the company that invented ElliQ, and the Aged Aid Program. They are the only device that uses artificial intelligence and is specifically designed to alleviate the loneliness and alienation of many elderly Americans.
It can remember each user ’ s interests and hobbies and conversations with each other, helping to customize future chat content, topics can be esoteric human business meaning, or easy horoscope.
ElliQ also jokes, plays music and offers inspirational quotes.
On the equipped screen, it provides city and museum tours. It can also guide users to exercise, ask about health, and remind them to take medicine and drink water.
In addition, ElliQ can make video calls to contact a user ’ s relatives, friends, or doctor in case of an emergency. These conversations are not heard by companies, Intuition Robotics says, and the data is kept on each user ’ s device.
Dor Skuler, co-founder and CEO of Intuition Robotics, was a little surprised that older people were so easily integrating robots into their lives; after all, it was a group of people who were often stereotyped as afraid to embrace new things, he said.
In an interview with the media at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in early January, Skuller said that just like developing an intimate relationship with a pet, older people are also working to forge new relationships with AI robots.
Through partnerships with government agencies and other organizations, hundreds of thousands of seniors across the United States already use ElliQ, Skuller noted.
The voice of ElliQ and its compassionate “personality ” were developed by a team of experts in artificial intelligence, behavioral psychology, and user-centered design, according to Skuller.
They defined ElliQ as “the little partner who makes older people happier and healthier. ”
Anita Montague, 76, said that before using ElliQ, the only thing she did back home was sit in front of the computer, but with ElliQ, she can do sports and other things, and now she is more energetic and motivated to find more work.
Monica Perez, 65, who has been using ElliQ for more than six months, said she finds it increasingly difficult to make friends as she gets older. She likes ElliQ to call her name affectionately and will ask how she is doing, like a real friend; with ElliQ, her mental health has improved greatly.
ElliQ would remind Perez to take the pill in the morning, “I ’ m much more active than I was without it. ”
In Canada, Carmichael, a resident of Vancouver ’ s Amica for the Elderly, attended a meeting last September with two robots named Kiwi and Mango.
Canada ’ s AI partners help increase interaction
These two AI “little buddies ” that can be held in your arms look brightly colored and are part of a study at the University of Columbia School of Nursing to understand how they interact with older adults and their impact on elder care.
Carmichael said her initial reaction was, “Oh my God, why would you want me to talk to a robot? ” But after overcoming the psychological barrier, Carmichael found that Mango might be able to stay with her for a long time, and she could play with it every day and no longer feel lonely.
Carmichael says with a smile that there is only one appearance that needs to be improved; she tells the staff to wear false eyelashes for Mango.
These robots were designed in Japan and have been studied in Asia for many years.
Lillian Hung, an assistant professor at the University of Columbia and Canada ’ s Research Chair in Senior Care, is leading a Canadian study into the use of robots in the care industry.
Hong said that the robots bring joy wherever they go, and every time they show up with the robots, the atmosphere in the room changes.
Robot friends make seniors happier
“Kiwifruit ” and“ mango ” can speak, recognize faces and sounds, express a desire to be picked up and give a hug.
They even charge themselves when they ’ re “tired, ” Ms. Hong says.
She said that so far, the response has been mixed, with some elderly people immediately feeling good about robots, while others are confused. Hong Lilian said that humans are social animals and have basic needs to love and be loved, which she believes is the meaning of companion robots and helps build stronger social connections.
Many studies have pointed out that maintaining relationships and social activities are important for the physical and mental health of older people; social loneliness is associated with an increase in emotional distress, depression, falls, the need for health care services, and even premature death.
Lise Brayham, who has lived in Amica for four years, said the robots are a good thing for older people who don ’ t leave their rooms often because “mangoes ” and“ kiwifruit ” don ’ t require walking, cleaning or feeding.
Brehan said it was hard to understand how robots interact with humans at first, but in the end she concluded that it was like having a great little pet, “They ’ re fun partners! ”
Charlotte England, 102, came into contact with the robots with Brehan and made them good friends.
Ingram immediately began talking to the robot and recalled swimming in the Ottawa River and skating in the Rideau Canal.
She then boasted about her baking skills to “mangoes ” and“ kiwifruit ”.
After the robot responds with a gentle cooing, Ingram continues to talk to them about the snack.
However, after a “long ” conversation, Ingram noticed that the kiwifruit ’ s eyes were a little low, and she said to it with some displeasure,“ Am I boring you? ”
Investing in health care to fill the manpower gap
In addition to the United States and Canada, many countries in Asia are also facing the problem of aging populations, and China is one of them, with a rapidly aging population and a serious shortage of medical and nursing manpower, and the hope is that this robot army can fill this gap.
According to Sixth Tone, an English-language online magazine owned by Surging News, staff member Gao Hongjun is busy preparing for the day ’ s entertainment at an elderly care center in central Shanghai: a singing robot named “Dopo. ”
This squatting white robot often performs shows for the elderly people staying in, usually singing the revolutionary songs of Mao Zedong ’ s era.
The old people loved it, Gao said, which also gave them a chance to breathe.
He said that as the number of elderly people living in the home has increased, but the care resources have not been relatively improved, AI robots are able to reduce their workload.
Gao Xiaodong, director of the center, charged the "Dobao" while saying that if the staff were tired, they could not take good care of the elderly.
Gao Xiaodong said that in recent years, he and his colleagues have been under great pressure, and in the community where the care center is located, more than 40% of the elderly population over 60 years old, and the average occupant is over 70 years old, and most of the people are suffering from dementia.
In response to this situation, the center has installed artificial intelligence equipment as much as possible, in addition to "Dobao", they have also purchased intelligent mattresses and computer games that can monitor the vital signs of the elderly while they sleep, and two robots that can perform disinfection will soon be activated.
China ’ s elderly population to exceed 400 million by 2040
China is investing heavily in robotics research and development to care for an expanding elderly population and solve the shortage of healthcare workers.
China ’ s elderly population aged 60 and over is forecast to increase from 280 million in 2022 to 402 million in 2040.
China ’ s social and medical system is already severely overburdened, and if urgent measures are not taken, the situation may worsen further.
According to the Chinese government, there should be one nursing staff for every four residents in the elderly care institutions, but only 320,000 nursing staff serve 8.1 million residents in China, a gap of more than 1.7 million. The government hopes that the development of AI technology can provide a solution. Accelerate the development of the industry.
Chinese tech giants rush AI care
Several Chinese tech giants are also sniffing this opportunity, and iFlytek, a large AI company, announced its “Superbrain 2030 ” plan in 2022, which will develop a new type of nursing robot for the elderly.
The plan points out that it is necessary for AI to understand knowledge, learn well, and evolve, so that robots can enter every family and solve problems such as elderly care, emotional companionship, and health management. Search engine leader Baidu is also promoting “Xiaodu ” AI intelligent assistant, which can be used to schedule medical appointments, obtain weather forecasts and play games.
At present, the most widely used smart care technology in China is wearable devices such as smart bracelets and watches, which provide many practical functions, such as monitoring the vital signs of the elderly, reminding them to take drugs on time, tracking their location, etc., but the industry believes that robots are the future of nursing care.
Many hope that China will follow Japan ’ s lead in making widespread use of robots in nursing homes, from the cute bear robot Robear, which helps elderly people sit up from their beds, to the furry pet robot Paro, which provides companionship and improves cognitive function.
There are now about 100 robotics start-ups in China that specialize in rehabilitation, companionship and care robots.
However, in the high price of robots, most companies have not yet achieved mass production, and local governments have not invested enough funds to promote robots in nursing homes on a large scale.
A food-delivery robot developed by Hangzhou Lewan Science and Technology in Zhejiang Province can deliver more than 20 meals to different rooms in a building, but few nursing homes can afford the product, which costs between 60,000 and 80,000 yuan (about $8,400 to $11,200).
Jiang Gancheng, CEO of Lewan, pointed out that if the price is 10,000 yuan, the expectation of buying gas will increase a lot, but if there are no more orders, the price can not be reduced, which is a problem of raw eggs and eggs.
However, there are also some robot companies that pull out of the red.
As soon as Zuowei Tech, a startup based in Shenzhen, launched its smart bath equipment, the market response was very enthusiastic.
The company sold 40 million yuan of equipment in 2022, and hopes to reach the 100 million yuan target this year.
Tu Chaorong, Vice President of Chowei Technology, said the demand for bathing equipment is strong because of the need of caregivers and the elderly they care for.
He said that many people believe that urinating on the elderly is the least dignified job, but caregivers will feel more dignified if they use high-tech equipment; similarly, many people in bed will feel less dignified if they do not have these equipment.
Accompanying robot behind the bullish trend
CEO Gu Jie of Shanghai Fourier Intelligence, a robotics company specializing in rehabilitation equipment, has noticed a similar trend, working with hospitals in big cities in China, but now there is increasing demand for nursing homes.
Gu Jie said that no matter where the elderly live, they hope that their bodies can be flexible and their mental state can be improved; and a robot can be used by many people, which greatly improves efficiency.
Chiang Gan-cheng is optimistic about the company-type robot, and believes that the development potential is unlimited.
The company recently launched a new product, priced at 10,000 yuan, can be placed at home to patrol, sing, play movies, and also provide video calls between the elderly and their children. Jiang Gancheng said that elderly people in good health often do not want to install a camera at home, thinking that it violates their privacy, but if an AI robot is accompanied by their family, they will not feel so lonely.
Zheng Yongping, a 68-year-old resident of Shanghai, agrees. Since his only child lives abroad, he has been living alone in his downtown home with his dog since retirement.
He already has a smart watch to monitor his health and uses smart speakers to manage the big things in life, but his dream is to one day have a robot of his own.
Zheng Yongping said he could not imagine what better choice than an AI robot when old and frail and in need of help; although it lacks human warmth, this is a trend in an aging society.
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For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

ElliQ, a robot by Intuition Robotics, uses AI to remember users' interests and customize chat content.

One in three US adults over 45 feel lonely, a National Academies report found.

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New York State Comptroller: Brooklyn has $874 million in unfunded funds
800 Elderly Receive Robot Companion Interaction to Relieve Loneliness
New York state officials will distribute robots to hundreds of elderly residents to remind them to take medication, help contact relatives, book a taxi, Uber, and even joke around.
The Office for the Aging in New York State (NYSOFA) will send these robots to the homes of 800 elderly people to solve the growing problem of loneliness among the elderly.
Greg Olsen, director of NYSOFA, said the robots are ElliQ, made by Israeli tech firm Intuition Robotics, and are reportedly more proactive than Apple ’ s Siri and Amazon ’ s Alexa.
Olson says ElliQ is proactive, remembers interactions with owners and focuses on health and wellness, stress reduction, sleep, hydration, and more.
ElliQ consists of two parts.
One part is like a face, shaped like a light, equipped with a microphone and speaker that lights up and rotates to interact with people, and the other part is a touch tablet that can make video calls and display pictures and messages.
The ElliQ robot is subscribed for $30 to $40 per month and initially has to pay a registration fee of $250.
Vox, a news review website, said robots had been used to accompany elderly people long before the outbreak, especially in aging countries such as Japan, Denmark and Italy, and state governments in New York, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Florida and other jurisdictions have tried similar programs, such as providing robotic pets to residents of nursing homes and retirement communities.
Just a month before the global outbreak, the National Academies reported that one in three adults over the age of 45 in the United States felt lonely, and the proportion of young people was unexpectedly high.
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What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

Robotic pets, like Joy for All, can comfort aging adults with Alzheimer's and dementia who face social isolation.

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Content: Robotic animal dolls may not be the first thought that comes to mind when considering a companion pet, but Diana Wise and Carol Brown believe otherwise. In fact, the two say Joy for All companion pets can make a big difference in providing comfort to aging adults with Alzheimer’s and dementia who are struggling with social isolation.

Wise saw this firsthand in her mother, who had dementia for years and lived in a memory care unit at an assisted living facility. Wise would visit her mother regularly, but when COVID hit, she could no longer do so.

“I was unable to see her for eight months,” said Wise, “And when I finally was able to see her, I saw the decline of how much the isolation affected her … [W]hen I found my mom, well, they said that all she did was sleep – what else was there to do? And so that isolation impacted her a lot. Her memory was just – everything had changed about her.”

Wise’s mother, Helen Espinoza, passed away in November 2020 from COVID complications. In the midst of her grief, Wise found herself wanting to do something in her mother’s memory that would help someone else. After having heard an idea from Brown about robotic companion pets, she soon had the idea to partner with her. As a result, Wise formed the “Share the Love” Helen Espinoza Memorial Fund.

“The first thing that came to mind was these animals to help with memory care units or caregivers, assisted living, with this isolation,” said Wise. “I mean, with COVID it really put a lot of perspective about how hard it is on these residents without having [companionship.] They can’t have little animals and stuff, but why not have this – the best, next best thing? You know, the interaction itself?”

The idea to use robotic pets came when Brown was doing her own research into solutions for the decline in quality of life brought on by isolation in these affected residents. Brown stated that with the Western Arizona Council of Governments (WACOG) Area Agency on Aging, she focuses heavily on three areas that affect seniors the most, and one of them is Alzheimer’s and dementia.

“For several years, we’ve been extremely aware that social isolation is causing a huge decline in quality of life and life expectancy in our seniors,” she said. “And COVID did shine a huge light on it: people started understanding how detrimental it is to be isolated like that. So we were looking for solutions prior to, but with COVID, it really lit a fire underneath to start seeking out possibilities to help resolve some of the issues going on.”

Brown explained that people with Alzheimer’s and dementia can struggle with extreme anxiety and agitation. They often benefit from having something to do with their hands. Their senses of time, space and reality can become skewed. Changes in environment or schedule can be really upsetting. And sometimes people with these diagnoses live alone with no help or companionship.

“On the other side is the caregiver, who – especially during COVID – found themselves 24/7 alone with that loved one, providing all the care because many of them didn’t want the services even coming into their home,” she said. “They were too afraid to let anybody in … So if their loved one isn’t sleeping, neither are they. So now the caregiver’s extremely stressed out, exhausted, overwhelmed, and they need help.”

Enter Joy for All’s lifelike robotic pets. With options between cats and puppies, the companion pets have heartbeats, can purr or lick, meow or bark, move and respond to motion, voice and touch. When needed, they can be muted as well. As robotic pets, they avoid the liabilities and dangers of caring for a living creature while still providing the comfort of an animal.

Brown had been demonstrating two pets in an interview with the Sun when a passerby had stopped to say, “Wow, I thought they were real!” Brown shared that she’s seen people visibly relax with the pets.

“There’s a lot of studies that were done years ago about giving folks with Alzheimer’s a baby doll,” she explained. “Many facilities don’t allow it. They consider it demeaning … But they were missing the point that if you’re not going to do that, then what are you going to do? You need to provide them with something that they can hang on to.

“Because these are so lifelike, it does exactly what the studies, the research, shows: it’s going to bring down the anxiety level. If there’s aggression, it tends to fall back down just as well … [and] you’re giving their caregiver a break.”

Wise and Brown shared that they hope not only to provide these pets to individuals with Alzheimer’s or their caregivers, but also to facilities with assisted living and skilled nursing memory care units where current shortages in staff mean individuals may be doing the work of two or three staff members at a time.

Brown shared that the Joy for All puppy typically costs about $140 while the cat costs $120. With bulk purchasing, she can bring the cost down a bit, but not by much. Additionally, the fund needs to cover rechargeable batteries for the pets.

The foundation will need to raise more funds to acquire more pets, but Wise and Brown reported that they’ve already been able to provide a few pets thanks to a donation made by AARP.

“So we were able to place a couple already at Daybreak Adult Daycare Center,” said Brown. “They are one of the providers that WACOG works with, so we were able to make a donation and bring them a puppy and kitten.

“They’re very popular. [The staff] make sure they handle it in a certain way so that there isn’t fighting. I think last time I talked to Mary, I think what they do is they got animal crates so when it’s time for them to go to bed, they get put in their crate.”

Seeing the difference the pets are making, Wise not only wishes to raise more funds to provide more of them, she also hopes to get the word out in case people may want to purchase the pets for their own family members.

“What I witnessed seeing the other residents that have Alzheimer’s, dementia: they do hold onto things and it gives them comfort,” she said. “My heart just went for this and so I know my mom would be really proud of that.

“… I needed something to come out positive about this, especially about how we’ve heard so much about the isolation with people in senior living homes and stuff, so we needed to have something a little bit more positive and something that we can do to uplift out of this whole thing.”

Wise and Brown also noted that despite the setbacks in kickstarting their fundraising campaign, now is a good time for people to learn about “Share the Love” and the Helen Espinoza Memorial Fund. November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers month.

As older adults continue to face the obstacles of Alzheimer’s and dementia in a pandemic, Wise and Brown hope to further reduce isolation for Yuma County’s elderly one companion pet at a time.

To learn more about the Helen Espinoza Memorial Fund and make a donation, visit https://www.azfoundation.org/Donors/Give-to-a-Memorial-Fund/-Share-the-Love-Helen-Espinoza-Memorial-Fund. To learn more about WACOG and connect with the resources they provide to aging adults, visit https://www.wacog.com/area-agency-on-aging/

Sisko J. Stargazer can be reached at 928-539-6849 or sstargazer@yumasun.com.

Sisko J. Stargazer can be reached at 928-539-6849 or sstargazer@yumasun.com.

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However, after entering the 21st century, as Japan's economic policy changed from industry-focused to financial-led, financial omnipotence occupied the political and economic center, people saw that companies began to show slow product updates and serious deficiencies in subsequent research and development.
While the international market continues to expand, the domestic market in Japan is gradually shrinking.
Politically, Junichiro Koizumi's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine showed a beggar-thy-neighbor attitude; in the era of the Democratic Party, it provoked territorial disputes and serious confrontation with neighboring countries; in the period of Shinzo Abe's administration, Japan's relations with South Korea and North Korea became strained; and after the reign of Manio Kishida, Japan-Russian relations reached the bottom of the post-war.
Economically, Japan entered the "lost decade" in the 1990s, and after entering the 21st century, Japan ushered in the "lost twenty years" and then extended this economic phenomenon to the "lost thirty years" through the Abe administration after 2010.
During this period, Japanese semiconductor from more than 50% of the world market, reduced to less than 10%; photovoltaic (solar) industry promotion policy has been rushed away; lithium ion batteries and other technologies are invented by Japanese companies, Panasonic Electric was once the world's largest battery manufacturers, but now in the world's most influential 5 battery companies, has not seen the shadow of Panasonic Electric; as early as the 1950s Japan has begun to develop the use of unmanned But drones have been lukewarm in Japan and so on, so far they have not been able to occupy a place in the international market.
Today, Japan still has a considerable influence in the world economy is the robot.
However, in the loss of three consecutive decades, Japan's artificial intelligence, industrial Internet, quantum computing capabilities, etc., can not occupy the mainstream position in the world, and politically began to implement the economic security law from 2022, cutting off the links between Japan and the major economic powers.
Will the Japanese robot industry be affected, like the semiconductor, battery and other industries, from the protagonist to the supporting role, and then enter the stage of the dragon suit? Is Japan more willing to enjoy the role of the dragon suit?
It can be said that the future of the robot industry is actually a microcosm of the development of Japan's industrial economy.
Robot adoption rates are starting to fall sharply.
In the Industrial Machinery Division of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, there is an organization responsible for robots, the Robotics Policy Office.
The Robot Policy Office is responsible for relevant industrial policy research, the introduction of robot policies, and the regular production of industry reports.
The latest version of the report to date was published in July 2019.
From the report of July 2019, the following characteristics have emerged in the Japanese robot industry;
First, from the election of Shinzo Abe as Prime Minister of Japan in 2012 to the statistics of the Ministry of Economy and Trade in 2017, the introduction of Japanese robots has gradually retreated from the number one position in the world, and has opened a huge distance with China in terms of growth rate.
In 2012 alone, Japan imported 28,680 robots, ranking first in the world, while China imported 22,987 robots, ranking third in the world.
In 2017, Japan imported 45,566 robots a year, an increase of 58.9% compared to 2012; while China imported 137,920 robots a year, nearly six times the number in 2012.
Regardless of volume or growth rate, China has completely crushed Japan.
In terms of robot introduction, Japan is not only inferior to China, but also lags behind other countries.
In terms of growth rate, Japan lags behind North America and South Korea, only slightly higher than Germany, and the world average (139.3%), which is also far behind.
Second, Japan's dominant position in the field of robotics has been declining year by year.
From the perspective of the Chinese market, the robots produced in Japan are no longer the mainstream, and the pursuit of enterprises from various countries has made Japanese robots more and more common.
Or look at the relevant figures issued by the Ministry of Agriculture:
In 2012, China ’ s own products accounted for only 13% of the robots needed in the Chinese market, Japan accounted for 65%, and imported from other countries accounted for 22%.
However, by 2017, the proportion of robots made in China has doubled to 27%, and the number has increased from 3,000 in 2012 to 37,800, and the proportion of Japan has dropped to 44%. Although it is still the most important country to introduce robots in China, the importance has decreased;
More importantly, the share of robots exported to China from other countries increased to 29% from 22% in 2012, indicating that not only has China ’ s robot industry changed dramatically in the past five years, but other countries are also trying to catch up with Japan.
Third, in terms of the use of robots, Japan lags behind South Korea and Germany, and although it is still higher than other countries and regions, there is little room to continue to introduce robots in the future.
Still from the data released by the Ministry of Economic Affairs: the density of robots per 10,000 people is 710 in South Korea, 658 in Germany, and less than half that in Japan, only 308.
Of course, Japan is much higher than the United States (230) and China (97), but China is catching up very fast.
Home and self-help.
After losing the advantages of semiconductors, batteries, photovoltaics, drones and other finished products, Japanese companies have temporarily retained the world's leading position in semiconductor packaging, battery positive pole and diaphragm, monocrystalline and polysilicon production capacity, and unmanned aerial vehicle motors.
Therefore, Japan is now more willing to retreat from the finished product into the key raw materials, key parts of the field, so that only make no loss - Japanese finished products in the price, market development does not have an advantage; but in the key products to maintain uniqueness, enterprises can enjoy the benefits of market development, and do not need to bear the risks arising from the mutual competition of finished products, new product development failure and so on.
In the robotics industry, there are two ends of the smile curve, one is the material and the other is the system integration.
Japanese companies in the composite materials, resin, intelligent materials, control, communication, sensors and other sub-areas have certain advantages; in the system integration, Japanese companies in processing machines, robot systems, information processing machines and other aspects have more accumulation, which ensure the profitability of Japanese robot companies.
In addition, Japanese companies have ample capital, but little investment in robot research and development, and the introduction of robots is limited, so Japanese companies are trying to expand the scope of use of robots – only if they succeed in new fields can the Japanese robot industry continue to develop.
In other words, robots began to enter various fields of Japanese society, and the path of development was constantly broadening.
If you see a beautiful woman or handsome man on the street, staring at people with straight eyes, reaching out a pig's hand to touch each other's face or hand, what is the immediate result, not self-evident.
But on the streets of Shibuya, Tokyo, there is a beautiful woman standing there 24 hours a day, a group of red men and green women looking around three levels, from time to time, a salty pig hand extended, but not slapped, only heard a polite warning from a nearby speaker: "Please don't touch!" - this "beautiful woman" is a robot.
This kind of robot, which can talk and communicate with people with affectionate eyes, is not many in Japanese society, and there are many robot animals.
For example, the robot dog AIBO developed by Sony was sold very well in Japan.
This kind of dog can walk, can make the same as the real dog but some like comic, some exaggerated actions, very loved by the elderly in the apartment who can not have a dog. Take such a robot dog to walk at home, talk to the dog, and listen to the dog in a language that people can understand and talk to themselves, for the lonely elderly, can alleviate the feeling of loneliness to a considerable extent.
In Japanese nursing homes, in addition to robot pets like AIBO, you can also see robots that can help the elderly defecate or help the elderly in bed to bathe.
Due to the low income of nursing workers and the lack of hands, the desire to introduce robots in Japanese nursing homes is very large, but the extent to which the current robot can meet the needs of nursing homes, and whether it can be low-cost in manufacturing is still a big problem.
The big change seen in Japan in recent years is that there are quite a lot of places at the front desk of government agencies that have been replaced with robots, which can answer questions from visitors in Japanese, Chinese, and English, and guide visitors to relevant departments or conference rooms.
Some office buildings also began to use robots to patrol, in the event of an emergency, although the robot can not directly control the relevant personnel, but take video, to provide backstage personnel with preparation time, etc. These functions can play a great role in solving the problem.
In fact, more of the robots made in Japan are used in the production process.
In addition to the robots we see in the car welding process in daily life, many fixed operations, the use of robots than the use of workers to ensure the stability of quality.
For example, after the Fukushima nuclear power accident, Hitachi, Toshiba and other nuclear power companies are developing corresponding robots, trying to investigate the accident situation of the nuclear power station through robots, and to a certain extent to deal with the accident.
However, how to deal with the situation, there is still very little information that can be learned, and the related work is being promoted, and it is estimated that there are many problems.
When talking to Japanese diplomatic and military personnel about robots, they are more concerned about military robots, such as unmanned submarines, drones equipped with explosive devices, etc., which will greatly increase in the use of war in the future.
In addition to long-range weapons such as missiles, the use of these robots will greatly change the course of war, making war more destructive and able to reverse human history at a very rapid rate.
Ending language
Affected by China and other countries and regions in terms of robot finished products, Japan's share of the international finished robot market will further decline in the future, but the research and development and production of robots over the past few decades, so that Japanese companies will not necessarily be squeezed into the corner, it is impossible to fight back.
What really makes the Japanese robot industry finally go bankrupt is still Japan's industrial policy.
After the adoption of the Economic Security Law in 2022, even with advanced materials and system integration capabilities, it is not possible to cooperate with the most important countries in the world (such as China), or can only cooperate with other countries with relatively backward technologies.
This seems to be able to provide protection for the robot industry in Japan to a certain extent, but the Japanese market is narrow, not enough to make the company become a giant of the robot industry; the external market is not to fight for, but not to fight for, and ultimately the robot industry can only take the old road of semiconductor, battery and other industries, and gradually decline in Japan.
The Kishida regime is also fighting for the revival of semiconductor, battery and other industries, such as taking out huge capital to introduce TSMC and other companies' semiconductor technology, encouraging investment in battery companies, and trying to build a complete industrial supply chain.
However, in the world economy, once industries are lost, there are very few precedents for recovery through economic policies.
Semiconductor, battery is not the exception, to the decline of the Japanese robot industry why not? [The author is the Executive Director of the Japan Enterprise (China) Research Institute]
(This article is from the Observer Network, authorized by the China Times News Network)
※ The above statements do not represent the position of Wangzhong Media Group ※
# Robotics # Japan # China # Robotics # Battery

What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

University of Glasgow scientists identified seven key factors in the human-animal bond to inform robot development and mimic dog-like behavior.

Title:

Content: Robots in the future will serve as a dog for the elderly or lonely people – scientists
Robots that in the future will support the elderly or lonely, should build relationships with the owner not as people, but as dogs.
In the future, this concept will be applied by developers.
Scientists from the University of Glasgow have made relevant conclusions based on new research.
This is reported on September 29 in the magazine PLOS ONE.
Scottish researchers surveyed more than 150 dog breeders and found that there are seven of the most commonly cited factors most closely related to animals.
These include the ability to communicate, the predictability of reactions, the physical signs of attachment, a positive, sometimes even enthusiastic approach, a propensity for joint activities, a sense of intimacy and, finally, the ability to adapt to each other.
Perhaps robots that behave this way will be approved.
The researchers suggest that embedding this type of behavior into robot software will allow them to provide their owners with the same experience and health benefits as friendship with a real animal, without the attendant responsibilities.
This will allow the technique to be used effectively.
"Our approach has allowed us to gain knowledge about the factors that make people so enjoy the company of dogs.
Although it will not be easy to recreate such behavior in robots, it can help in creating friendships for wards, ” the authors said.
In the next phase of the study, a team led by Katie Riddock intends to conduct tests involving humans and robots behaving like dogs.
An additional topic of study may also be the dependence of preferences of different types of dog behavior depending on the age, origin and environment of specific people.
Earlier, Cursor reported that engineers have created a robot that searches for lost things.
The system uses visual information from video cameras, as well as radio private signals, so it is highly efficient.
Read the latest news from Israel and the world on the Kursor channel in Telegram.
Author of the material:
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Scottish researchers believe what will provide benefits to owners of robotic dogs without accompanying responsibilities?


US drug shortages hit a record 323 in the first quarter of 2024, steadily increasing since 2021.

All drug classes are vulnerable to shortages, particularly sterile injectables, cancer chemotherapy, and emergency drugs.

The five categories of drugs with the greatest deficiency include central nervous system stimulants, antimicrobials, hormonal agents, intravenous fluids, and 32 chemotherapy drugs.

Manufacturing and quality problems are often the root cause of drug shortages, rather than just growing demand.

Lack of transparency in the supply chain hinders the ability to respond to shortages.

Most hospital pharmacists are reporting a critical shortage of chemotherapy drugs, forcing hospitals to delay, cancel or ration care.

99% of hospital pharmacists are reporting drug shortages, with 309 affected medications, nearing the 2014 record high of 320.

Hospitals are substituting drugs and changing treatment plans due to key drug shortages, putting patients at risk.

The Ukraine-Russia conflict caused a 30-year high in drug shortages due to supply chain disruptions and raw material scarcity.

The FDA's limited release of certain raw materials, like ephedrine, causes a shortage of related drugs.

Price cuts have led pharmaceutical companies to withdraw from the health insurance market, causing a drug shortage.

The White House proposes spending $3.26 billion to $5.11 billion over the next decade to address the nation's drug shortage.

U.S. researchers and policymakers believe a complete solution to the drug shortage may require changes to the U.S. pharmaceutical industry's business model.

Medicine shortages have increased worldwide over the past decade due to raw material shortages, manufacturing difficulties, and industry consolidations.

Economic factors and supply chain issues cause the medication shortage.

A shortage of critical drugs threatens U.S. national security.

The global medication shortage has persisted from 2021 to 2024 with no end in sight.

US drug shortages hit a record 323 in the first quarter of 2024, steadily increasing since 2021.

Title:

Content: General Supervision
Elham Aboul Fath
Editor-in-Chief
Thank you for your patience.
General Supervision
Elham Aboul Fath
Editor-in-Chief
Thank you for your patience.
An Unexpected Catastrophe in the World ’ s Largest Country: The Complete Story of U.S. Drug Shortages
The deficit is at a record level.
According to data from the American Society of Health System Pharmacists and the University of Utah Drug Information Service, organizations began tracking drug shortages for the first time in 2001. Steady since 2021 – now reaching a record high of 323 drugs in the first three months of 2024.
Paul Abramowitz, CEO of the American Society of Health System Pharmacists, wrote in a blog post on Thursday: “It ’ s been a long time to end drug shortages, ” and wrote:“ All drug classes are vulnerable to shortages, some of the most worrisome shortages include sterile injectable generic drugs, including cancer chemotherapy drugs and emergency drugs stored in hospital vans and procedural areas. It is dangerous for doctors and patients. ”
In addition to the 32 chemotherapy drugs that are deficient, the five categories of drugs with the greatest deficiency include central nervous system stimulants, antimicrobials, hormonal agents, and intravenous fluids. [1] The Drug Deficiency Database maintained by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists and the University of Utah is based on voluntary reports from practitioners, patients, and others that have been confirmed by manufacturers. The U.S. drug is in short supply, because it captures broader effects on service providers and patients.
The crisis has lasted a year and a half.
More than half of the treatment shortages have lasted for more than two years, according to an analysis by health consultancy IQVIA, and the average shortage affects at least half a million patients, many of them elderly, according to the US Office of Health and Human Services under the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, which shared its analysis with Congress in May.
Growing demand can play a role in drug shortages, as with the recent shortage of weight-loss drugs, but often manufacturing and quality problems, such as supply chain gaps and downtime, are the root cause. And varied.
But the American Society of Health System Pharmacists has “serious concerns ” about parts of this proposal, especially financial sanctions imposed on hospitals that lack the resources to comply with the recommendations, Abramowitz wrote:“ We all know that managing shortages is not enough and is not a sustainable solution to the worsening crisis, and there is still a lot of work to be done at the federal level to fix the root causes of drug shortages. ”
Why Shortage Occurs
Shortages can be caused by high demand, as with the recent shortage of weight-loss drugs, but this is not usually the main problem.
The FDA also blames manufacturing and quality problems, supply chain gaps, and downtime, and Dr. Emily Tucker, a drug shortage expert and an assistant professor of industrial engineering at Clemson University, says that when there is an indication of shortages, large health systems often also proactively place large orders, adding to the system ’ s stress.
“I don ’ t blame anyone.
“When I talk to all the stakeholders – whether it ’ s wholesalers, manufacturers, or the government – everyone wants this problem to end, ” she said.
Lack of transparency
Dr. Julie Grallo, chief medical officer and executive vice president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, told the House Committee earlier that the shortage puts providers in a terrible position: “The drug shortage crisis is forcing providers to make impossible choices, and it is also hindering the development of new drugs. Health drugs are purchased only on a price basis, and manufacturers do not have to disclose the source of their acquisition of the ingredients.
The shortage of this generic chemical drug came due to the closure of one factory in India that manufactures the active ingredient after a surprise FDA inspection found “significant quality issues, ” says Jarallo:“ We didn ’ t know, and there was no transparency regarding the company ’ s supply of the majority of active pharmaceutical ingredients to all manufacturers across the board.
Knowing this in advance, we could have responded much faster, ” Dr. Steven Schundlemeyer, director of the PRIME Institute of the University of Minnesota School of Pharmacy, which focuses on economic and management issues, told the committee that as with defense contractors in the United States, New Zealand requires manufacturers to disclose their suppliers, and that information is required.
Easily accessible in the database.
Related Topics

All drug classes are vulnerable to shortages, particularly sterile injectables, cancer chemotherapy, and emergency drugs.

The five categories of drugs with the greatest deficiency include central nervous system stimulants, antimicrobials, hormonal agents, intravenous fluids, and 32 chemotherapy drugs.

Manufacturing and quality problems are often the root cause of drug shortages, rather than just growing demand.

Lack of transparency in the supply chain hinders the ability to respond to shortages.

Most hospital pharmacists are reporting a critical shortage of chemotherapy drugs, forcing hospitals to delay, cancel or ration care.

Title:

Content: As drug shortage list grows, many hospitals face tough decisions on rationing care

More than half of hospital pharmacists are reporting a critical shortage of chemotherapy drugs and nearly all are reporting overall medicine supply gaps as prescription drug shortages near an all time high, according to a new survey.

Hospital pharmacists said drug shortages have forced 1 in 3 health systems to delay, cancel or ration care or switch to alternate drugs to continue to treat patients. And 99% are reporting some drug supply shortages, an American Society of Health-System Pharmacists survey of more than 1,000 pharmacists released Thursday found.

The organization reported shortages of 309 drugs, near the all-time high of 320 shortages in 2014. The scarcity of key drugs is prompting hospitals to find or substitute drugs and change treatment plans as needed.

“In some cases, there are no alternatives to the affected drugs, which puts patients at risk," ASHP Chief Executive Officer Paul W. Abramowitz said in a statement. "This issue requires quick action from Congress to address the underlying causes of shortages and ensure patients have the medications they need.”

Cancer drug shortages

In June, the Food and Drug Administration said it will temporarily allow overseas drug manufacturers to import some chemotherapy drugs.

The FDA allowed Qilu Pharmaceutical, a drug manufacturer in China, to import the injectable chemotherapy drug cisplatin in 50-milligram vials. Toronto pharmaceutical company Apotex Corp. will distribute the medication in the United States.

More than a dozen cancer drugs have been in shortage in recent months, including cisplatin and carboplatin, used to treat lung, breast, prostate and gynecologic cancers. The National Cancer Institute said cisplatin and similar drugs are prescribed for 10% to 20% of all cancer patients.

In June, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network released a survey of 27 academic cancer centers that found 93% reported shortages of carboplatin and 70% faced shortages of cisplatin.

When cancer hospitals face such shortages, they attempt to make sure there's enough medication for patients to finish the course of treatment, said Mike Ganio, ASHP's senior director of pharmacy practice and quality.

Cancer hospitals facing such shortages might change medications for new patients starting on chemotherapy, said Ganio, a former pharmacy manager at an academic cancer center.

"You try to keep that patient on the same regimen as much as you can, unless they're failing it for some reason, and then you would switch," Ganio said.

Steroids, hormonal drugs also in short supply

More than 1 in 5 hospital pharmacists also reported shortages for steroids, hormonal drugs and oral liquids such as lidocaine, ibuprofen and amoxicillin.

A smaller number of pharmacists said heart medications, emergency prefilled syringes and drugs used for intensive care unit patients were in short supply. Others reported shortages of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medicines, antimicrobial drugs and injectable opioids.

In all, about two-thirds of pharmacists said the shortages were "moderately impactful," which means they are managing shortages but patients are affected.

Pharmacists are managing the shortages by offering therapeutic alternatives, buying different vial sizes or concentrations and rationing medicines.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Survey: Drug shortages are widespread, hospitals ration care

99% of hospital pharmacists are reporting drug shortages, with 309 affected medications, nearing the 2014 record high of 320.

Hospitals are substituting drugs and changing treatment plans due to key drug shortages, putting patients at risk.

The Ukraine-Russia conflict caused a 30-year high in drug shortages due to supply chain disruptions and raw material scarcity.

The FDA's limited release of certain raw materials, like ephedrine, causes a shortage of related drugs.

Title:

Content: The epidemic disrupted the supply chain, coupled with the shortage of raw materials caused by the war between Ukraine and Russia, caused the "biggest shortage of drugs in 30 years" in Taiwan at the beginning of last year. With the coming of the Chinese New Year, patients are worried about hoarding goods, and I am afraid that the shortage of drugs will become more serious.
A domestic pharmaceutical company recently received a call from a patient, the original patient has a heart disease, has been taking self-funded drugs, but recently faced the problem of lack of drugs, the doctor can not prescribe the same drugs, so the patient urgently asked the pharmaceutical company directly.
The drug factory staff, who did not want to be named, revealed that "it is not only this patient, but these patients even set up groups to find out where they can buy drugs, forcing them to call us after they have no way out."
Wang Ming-yuan, deputy spokesman of the All Federation of Pharmacists Association, said: "Last year, the shortage of drugs was the most serious situation since the outbreak of the epidemic, resulting in lack of labor and logistics. Now, with the release of the epidemic, the shortage of drugs has slowed down slightly.
For example, many patients with allergic rhinitis have been short of medicine for four months, Wang says, "Because it contains ephedrine, which is a controlled drug, the FDA only puts two batches of raw materials a year, so it is easy to run out of medicine.
Another reason for the shortage of drugs is the price of health insurance drugs. Due to the price cut, about 36% of the market share of "tears point eye" withdrew from the health insurance market in November last year. The drug used in the past in the health insurance annual consumption of more than 2.3 million bottles, which is equivalent to 190,000 bottles per month. And...
Shen Tsai-ying, a pharmacist, criticized officials for only treating head pain and foot pain. She said that the price of "love tears" health insurance is more expensive, health insurance has not saved money at all, and now even the domestically produced "Wufu" and other artificial tears brands are all out of stock.
Shen Caiying predicts that this wave of artificial tears shortage will continue until at least the Spring Festival.
Since the implementation of the "Drug Expenses Target System" (DET) in 102 years, the National Health Insurance Administration has set the target value of annual drug expenditure to maintain a stable and reasonable range of drug expenses. Under the total payment system, effective control of drug expenditure. Last year, the total drug price was reduced by 8.18 billion yuan, and the price of 5,500 drugs was reduced.
"The price of water and electricity is rising, but the price of health insurance has been cut!"
Shen Caiying pointed out that the price of drugs is constantly being cut, and pharmaceutical companies have no choice but to withdraw from the health insurance market, which has led to a more serious shortage of drugs.
In recent years, the Red Sea has been involved in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, and it has been attacked by Yemeni youth movement organizations, endangering the traffic of commercial ships. Large shipping companies have announced that they will stop sailing in the Red Sea and switch to the Cape of Good Hope in southern Africa, resulting in soaring freight costs. 180% increase.
Wang Ming-yuan laments that the situation at the freight gate will probably be the same as during the epidemic, and that the shortage of medicines will certainly increase, and with the arrival of the Chinese New Year, the public's "stockpiling" mentality will probably trigger a wave of drug snatching.
More CTWANT News
# Lack of medicine # Red Sea crisis # Lack of medicine # Original medicine

Price cuts have led pharmaceutical companies to withdraw from the health insurance market, causing a drug shortage.

The White House proposes spending $3.26 billion to $5.11 billion over the next decade to address the nation's drug shortage.

Title:

Content: Meitu
The first quarter of the United States serious drug shortage 323 drugs urgent cancer patients also have to be diverted and rationed!
CHU HENG NETWORK NEWS CENTER 2024-04-16 10: 42
According to the latest data from the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Utah Center for Drug Information Services, a total of 323 drugs in the United States were in severe shortages in the first quarter of this year, surpassing the record of 320 in 2014.
Among the drugs affected are the widely used diabetes drugs Ozempic and Mounjaro, the allergy treatment drug adrenaline, the common antibiotic amoxicillin for children, chemotherapy drugs and injections commonly used in hospitals in intensive care.
ASHP CEO Paul Abramowitz said in a statement that almost all categories of drugs are facing shortages, with non-patented sterile injectable drugs, including cancer chemotherapy drugs, and emergency drugs stored in hospital emergency vans and operating areas, the shortage of such drugs is the most worrying.
According to the American Cancer Society, chemotherapy is one of the top five drugs most affected by the shortage, which threatens to have a devastating impact on patients, and some hospitals and clinics say doctors have had to divert patients to ration their medications because of a shortage of some chemotherapy drugs.
In addition, ASHP noted that the continued nationwide shortage of ADHD drugs is “a problem for clinicians and patients. ”
The shortage of popular drugs is even more acute, with Mounjaro, the diabetes drug known as the “slimming pill ”, already in dire straits.
In response, Lilly said that the “unprecedented surge in demand ” for Mounjaro and its similar drug Zepbound has led to a shortage in the market, which the company is struggling to cope with.
Lilly is ramping up investments to boost production at Mounjaro and Zepbound in the second half of 2024.
The company said it expects intermittent supply disruptions in the near term due to unprecedented demand.
How to cure the drug shortage
The last major “drug shortage ” in U.S. history occurred in 2014, and it has only been alleviated in the years since.
Since 2021, the drug shortage situation seems to be increasing, and scholars in the field of medical health and economics in the United States believe that the reason for most drug shortages in the United States is the fragmentation of the drug supply chain.
The White House this month proposed spending between $3.26 billion and $5.11 billion over the next decade to help address the nation ’ s drug shortage.
The bill requires approval and funding from the U.S. Congress.
U.S. researchers and policymakers believe that a complete solution to the “drug shortage ” may require changes to the business model of the U.S. pharmaceutical industry, including measures to increase the price of generic drugs to attract more drug manufacturers.
Policymakers recommend giving the FDA more power to access more information about drug shortages and impending shortages.
Currently, the FDA relies primarily on phone calls to manufacturers asking if they can increase their supply to understand the situation.
The American Society of Health System Pharmacists said it is working with the federal government to advise the government on measures to address the drug shortage, including that Congress should require manufacturers to be more transparent on any supply chain issues and encourage more diversity in supply chains.
According to Abramowitz, “The federal government still has a lot of work to do to fundamentally address drug shortages, and the American Society of Health System Pharmacists will continue to engage regularly with policymakers to guide them in drafting and passing new legislation to address drug shortages and continue to advocate vigorously for proven solutions on behalf of our members. ”

U.S. researchers and policymakers believe a complete solution to the drug shortage may require changes to the U.S. pharmaceutical industry's business model.

Medicine shortages have increased worldwide over the past decade due to raw material shortages, manufacturing difficulties, and industry consolidations.

Title:

Content: Ireland has been suffering a paracetamol shortage as cases of Covid-19 and the winter flu in the country soared over the festive and new year period.

The revelation was made by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly after his department received notification of a supply issue from the Health Products Regulatory Authority.

It is understood the shortage impacted some prescription paracetamol products.

Read More:Irish people complain of ‘worst ever’ winter bug sweeping country that feels like Covid but isn’t

Two suppliers affected have stated that resupply will be sometime in January 2023.

However, there are other prescription paracetamol suppliers with some stock available on the shelves.

Paracetamol is one of the medicines used most often in Ireland and especially for the flu, aches and pain.

But Mr Donnelly pointed out that there are multiple forms of the drug with different strengths and brands available from various sources.

He said: "In the event that there are some supply issues for individual medicines, alternative options such as alternative strengths and brands, generic medicines will usually be available to ensure continuity of treatment.

"In some cases where the medicine initially prescribed for the patient is unavailable, patients may be switched to a suitable therapeutic alternative following appropriate consultation with a healthcare professional."

The Health Minister said medicine shortages have been increasingly prevalent worldwide over the past decade. The causes of such shortages are multifactorial including shortage of raw materials, manufacturing difficulties and industry consolidations.

He stated: "Medicine shortages can originate at any point in the supply chain. They can involve and impact many stakeholders in different ways as the supply models and clinical use of therapies can vary across national health systems.

"Management of medicines shortages necessitates a multi-faceted, multi stakeholder response to ensure patient safety , continuity of care and protection of public health.

"Patients or their carers who have any concerns in relation to temporary alternative products provided because of medical shortages are advised to speak with their pharmacist or other healthcare [professionals] involved in their care."

Mr Donnelly was responding to a number of written Dail questions on the shortage of medicines.

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Economic factors and supply chain issues cause the medication shortage.

Title:

Content: The New York Times Original
Continue reading Growing drug shortage in the United States has become a threat to national security
The shortage of medicines in the United States last year increased compared to 2021 by 30%, according to The New York Times.
However, the article notes that the growing shortage of inexpensive but critical drugs poses a national security threat to the United States.
The growing shortage of inexpensive but critical drugs poses a threat to U.S. national security and forces hospitals to make “terrible ” choices, writes The New York Times, citing a report prepared for hearings in the U.S. Senate.
According to this report, the shortage of medicines last year increased by almost 30% compared to 2021, with an average shortage of medicines observed for 18 months, and for some drugs – 15 years.
Among the drugs in short supply are conventional antibiotics and anesthetics, the article said.
Senator Gary Peters, a Democrat from Michigan and chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, said that these problems are related to economic factors, an opaque supply chain and the fact that 80% to 90% of some products are made abroad.
“Taken together, these underlying causes not only raise serious concerns about ensuring proper patient care, but also pose a serious threat to national security, ” Peters said.
Dr. Andrew Schumann, an oncology surgeon from Michigan, told senators at the hearing that the shortage of drugs in his field is "a tragedy occurring in slow motion."
As Schumann noted, recently due to the shortage of one cheap, but well-proven cancer drug, he had to choose which patients will receive this drug.
The article notes that many of the cheapest drugs tend to be made in countries such as India and China, where they are inexpensive to manufacture.
However, this concentration of production capacity creates an additional level of vulnerability to problems such as natural disasters and political unrest, emphasizes The New York Times.
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