A record 323 drug shortages were reported in 2024, affecting various medications, including generics, stimulants, antimicrobials, and intravenous fluids.

Drug shortages have been tracked since 2001, with central nervous system stimulants being among the most deficient categories.

The main causes of drug shortages are manufacturing and quality problems, as well as supply chain gaps, downtime, and high demand.

Lack of transparency in the pharmaceutical industry hinders the response to drug shortages, as companies are not required to disclose their ingredient sources.

The FDA has reported 111 US drug shortages, mainly due to production and quality issues, and requires manufacturers to report disruptions and process changes to prevent shortages.

The European Union has announced measures to reform the pharmaceutical industry, including transparency and coordination improvements, a voluntary solidarity mechanism, and an early warning system to address medication shortages.

Some countries, like New Zealand, require manufacturers to disclose suppliers to improve transparency and mitigate medication shortages.

The World Health Organization has designated September 17 as World Patient Safety Day to highlight patient safety and address medication shortages.

Patient advocacy groups have called on governments to address drug shortages and ensure patient access to necessary medications.

A shortage of carboplatin and other chemotherapy drugs has led to delays and cancellations of cancer treatments, putting patient lives at risk, with 93% of treatment centers reporting a carboplatin shortage in May 2023.

The US FTC and Health Department are investigating chemotherapy drug shortages.

Pharmaceutical companies are criticized for prioritizing profits over producing life-saving drugs, exacerbating medication shortages.

FTC Chair Lina Khan has criticized the pharmaceutical industry's lack of transparency.

Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drug Company is working to reduce drug shortages and costs by offering transparent pricing and direct manufacturer partnerships.

The company has partnered with Community Health Systems to manufacture generic sterile injectables and reduce costs.

Addressing medication shortages will require a coordinated effort from healthcare systems, pharmaceutical companies, and patient advocacy groups.

Medicine shortages have increased worldwide over the past decade, requiring a multi-stakeholder response to ensure patient safety.

Patients can consult pharmacists or healthcare professionals about medication shortages and potential alternatives.

The FDA tracks US drug shortages and has allowed importation of some overseas chemotherapy drugs.

Congress has been urged to address the underlying causes of medication shortages.

The American Society of Health System Pharmacists has advised the government on addressing medication shortages through improved transparency and coordination.

The US White House has proposed $3.26-5.11 billion to address medication shortages and improve the drug supply chain.

The FDA needs more power to access information about drug shortages and manufacturers should be more transparent.

The EU plans to tighten drug controls, track supply chains, and introduce mutual assistance to reduce medication shortages.

Kuwait's Minister of Health regulates medicine dispensing and contracts with pharmaceutical suppliers through new mechanisms.

Kuwait has strengthened its medical stock and implemented medicine rationing.

China's National Health Commission and National Drug Administration have improved the drug shortage classification and monitoring system.

The Chinese government has established a platform to track and address drug shortages.

The EU has proposed a law to reduce dependence on China for pharmaceuticals and improve drug supply and prices.

The EU proposes a Critical Medicines Alliance to monitor frequently shortage drugs.

The FDA disseminates information on drug supplies and alternatives to address medication shortages.

Kuwait's Ministry of Health has proposed strategies to address medicine shortages, including a permanent drug shortage treatment center.

Labor shortages have disrupted 60% of pharmacies' supply chains.

The key performance indicators (KPIs) for medication shortage mitigation strategies include medication accuracy, patient satisfaction, financial performance, patient safety, and inventory management.

KPIs measure progress toward specific goals and track the effectiveness of medication shortage mitigation strategies.

Manufacturing and quality issues, supply chain gaps, and downtime commonly cause medication shortages.

Lack of transparency hinders mitigation efforts, making clear tracking and reporting mechanisms essential.

Medication shortages have a moderate to significant impact on patient care, forcing delays, cancellations, or rationing of treatments.

Pharmacists have developed coping strategies, such as alternative treatments and rationing, to manage medicine shortages.

The pharmaceutical industry's transformation is driven by innovation, including machine learning and data analytics.

Pharmaceutical companies are using technology like artificial intelligence to improve supply chain management and reduce medication shortages.

Blockchain technology improves medical supply chains by enhancing security, integrity, authenticity, and traceability.

Blockchain technology can help reduce medication shortages by providing secure product data.

The EU Commission proposes shortening drug evaluations from 210 to 180 days to boost pharmaceutical supply chain resilience.

The European Commission proposed that EU states require pharmaceutical companies to hold safety stocks of medicine.

France reported 4,925 drug shortages in 2023, highlighting the need for policy changes.

The FDA has issued draft guidelines requiring manufacturers to report changes in manufacturing processes.

The EU has proposed a solidarity mechanism, early warning system, and emergency measures to address drug scarcity.

The European Commission proposes revising EU pharmaceutical regulation to make medicines more affordable and combat antimicrobial resistance.

The National Health Commission and National Drug Administration have implemented measures to monitor and address drug shortages.

The White House has proposed $3.26 billion to $5.11 billion to address drug shortages, and the FDA needs more power to access relevant information.

The American Society of Health System Pharmacists advises the government on shortages and recommends manufacturer transparency on supply chain issues.

The Irish Health Minister has proposed legislation to enable pharmacists to prescribe certain medications and implement substitution protocols during shortages.

A record 323 drug shortages were reported in 2024, affecting various medications, including generics, stimulants, antimicrobials, and intravenous fluids.

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

Drug shortages have been tracked since 2001, with central nervous system stimulants being among the most deficient categories.

The main causes of drug shortages are manufacturing and quality problems, as well as supply chain gaps, downtime, and high demand.

Lack of transparency in the pharmaceutical industry hinders the response to drug shortages, as companies are not required to disclose their ingredient sources.

The FDA has reported 111 US drug shortages, mainly due to production and quality issues, and requires manufacturers to report disruptions and process changes to prevent shortages.

Title:

Content: US supply chain crisis continues, FDA points to 111 drug shortages
Global Social Hotspot 16: 35 2021 / 12 / 05
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The supply chain crisis in the United States continues, and many goods are facing shortages.
The US media said that the US pharmacies have a number of critical prescription drugs in stock. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pointed out that about 111 drugs are out of stock in the United States. The FDA stressed that it will continue to take measures to monitor the supply chain.
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The Federal Reserve warned on Wednesday that large parts of the United States had begun to be affected by supply chain disruptions and labor shortages last month.
According to the FDA website, 111 drugs are out of stock in the United States, including the heart disease drug digoxin injection, the chemical drug Dacarbazine and some antibiotics.
The authorities say there are many reasons for the shortage, including production problems, quality problems, drugs and even the suspension of production.
According to the FDA, about 80% of the manufacturers of active pharmaceutical ingredients are located overseas, and the manufacturers have provided the FDA with most of the drug shortage information.
The Administration will also work closely with these manufacturers to address the drug shortage.
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Long Island Newspaper Newsday quoted Tom D'Angelo, president of the New York State Association of Pharmacists, as saying the shipping of a large number of medicines, including those for common blood pressure and for the treatment of colds and flu, was blocked.
Because of supply chain problems, the owner of a New York drugstore said there were fewer brands for some drugs, including Ibuprofen.
The National Association of Community Pharmacists (NCPA) released a survey last month that found that most non-chain pharmacies are struggling to fill employee vacancies and cope with supply chain disruptions.
Sixty percent of pharmacies surveyed said they were dealing with supply chain disruptions, and nearly 70 percent said it was difficult to fill staff vacancies.
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The European Union has announced measures to reform the pharmaceutical industry, including transparency and coordination improvements, a voluntary solidarity mechanism, and an early warning system to address medication shortages.

Title:

Content: French health groups put forward proposals to limit the damage of worsening drug shortages

Medicines such as cough syrup, lozenges and ointment are seen on a table in an apartment in Berlin, Tuesday, December 20, 2022. Copyright Stephanie Pilick/dpa via AP
Copyright Stephanie Pilick/dpa via AP
By Lauren Chadwick
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Pharmaceutical companies’ lack of transparency leads to rising drug prices and less control over public resources, the group of health organisations say.

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A group of French organisations have called for more transparency from pharmaceutical companies as drug shortages increase.

In a joint report, 14 civil society organisations outlined their recommendations to solve a “situation that has only worsened” since 2018.

The French medicines regulator signalled 4,925 drug shortages in 2023, compared to 3,761 in 2022 and 2,160 in 2021.

A 2024 survey from France Assos Santé, which represents patients, found that 44 per cent of people in France said they had faced a drug shortage this year.

One of the pharmacy unions in France has even planned a strike at the end of the month over drug shortages and what they say is worsening access to care.

Each health organisation contributed an article with recommendations for dealing with the drug shortages.

The League Against Cancer urged complete transparency on drug shortages and potential substitutions for health professionals.

They also called for monitoring of medicine stocks and their location in the country to guarantee equal access.

The organisation found in a survey published in February that 78 per cent of health professionals in oncology had been faced with a drug shortage.

Drug shortages or delays have led to anxiety among cancer patients, lost time, and worsening symptoms, the organisation said.

France Assos Santé, meanwhile, wrote that an urgent response should not be to support “the industrial sector which bears serious responsibilities” for abandoning the production of less profitable drugs, relocating drug production, and keeping insufficient medicine stocks.

They would like any cost increases justified by production costs or the risk of withdrawing a drug from the market due to it being unprofitable. They called for cost evaluations to be made public.

Their concerns also range from the use of public money to bring drug production to Europe to new government plans to prevent shortages.

Some changes at the EU level criticised

Last year, the European Commission announced several measures to reform the pharmaceutical industry and address critical drug shortages.

The European Parliament went on to adopt a position on pharmaceutical reform last month, that included “incentives for innovation” and an effort to limit overuse of antibiotics.

The non-profit organisation Prescrire, which focuses on information about medicine, wrote in a chapter they contributed to the report that while some of the European Commission’s measures were welcome, others were concerning.

One of the many measures they rejected included the Commission’s proposal to reduce the number of days of scientific evaluation of drugs from 210 to 180, which they said was necessary time rather than an “administrative obstacle”.

While the NGO welcomed some measures such as government drug shortage prevention plans, it said the Commission should allow EU states to require pharmaceutical companies to have safety stocks of medicine and sanction those that do not respect them.

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French consumer organisation UFC-Que Choisir and the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) said that they had hoped MEPs would shorten the length of time for “data protection” to allow generic medicines to be marketed more quickly.

Instead, MEPs approved shortening the period to 7.5 years, “which is almost the same duration as the current 8 years [yet] within the framework of the text adopted by Parliament, companies can gain additional months of protection under certain conditions to reach a total of 8.5 years,” UFC-Que Choisir said.

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Some countries, like New Zealand, require manufacturers to disclose suppliers to improve transparency and mitigate medication shortages.

The World Health Organization has designated September 17 as World Patient Safety Day to highlight patient safety and address medication shortages.

Title:

Content: Policy and Inadequate Clinical Engagement Call on Government to Address Drug Deficiency and Enhance Patient Participation Rights
Health Care Network
The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated September 17 every year as World Patient Safety Day (referred to as Patient Safety Day), but patient participation in China is still insufficient from policy to clinical.
The Taiwan Alliance of Patients and Friends (TAPO) today (13th) invited patient groups and medical organizations to celebrate World Patient Safety Day, calling on the government to actively address the crisis of drug shortage and implement three important rights of patients in the medical and health care system: the right to know, the right to choose and the right to participate.
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The Taiwan Alliance of Patients and Friends (TAPO) held a press conference on World Patient Safety Day 2023 on the 13th, inviting the two major competent authorities of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Department of Health, the Association of Pharmacists, the Association of Nurses, the Medical Reform Foundation, and the Pharmaceutical Relief Foundation to jointly advocate for patient safety.
Call on the Ministry of Health and Welfare to actively respond to the drug shortage crisis
Wu Honglai, president of TAPO, pointed out that a stable supply of drugs is the basis of drug safety. At the beginning of this year, the shortage of drugs in China worsened, and the public may not be able to obtain the required drugs in community pharmacies.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare subsequently set up a drug supply notification processing center, but the problem of drug shortage at the grassroots level is still reported.
Now the global shortage of drugs continues to fever, the United States official also confirmed that the lack of drugs for several months, in addition to pain medication, even cancer drugs, antibiotics are in crisis.
Faced with such a challenge, Taiwan is also a small market, low health insurance cost of the country, I am afraid that it will be no small impact, imploring the Ministry of Health and Welfare to put forward a more positive response to the shortage of drugs, so that patients will not suffer from the interruption of treatment.
Chen Wen-wen, CEO of the Drug Harm Relief Foundation, believes that "drug safety" is an important part of maintaining patient safety. From years of experience and research, many serious drug hazards can be prevented beforehand. In all stages of treatment, such as receiving prescriptions, taking drugs, and tracking the effectiveness of treatment, you must have a deep understanding of the relevant information in order to escape the passive acceptance of instructions and actively restore health.
Enhance patient participation and influence
Yan Biwen, deputy executive director of the Cancer Hope Foundation, suggested that the current time point for patients to express their views is worth discussing again, and the expert meeting has completed the drug payment proposal before the expression, for discussion by the Joint Committee, and the views of patients are difficult to exert practical impact.
The government should refer to the practices of leading countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada to include the views of patients in the medical technology assessment, including subsequent expert meetings and meetings to decide on payment, and have formal representatives of patients to participate in the discussion and resolution.
This year, the Health Insurance Department visited the Cancer New Drug Fund of the United Kingdom and cooperated with NICE in the United Kingdom. It should also follow its patient-centered spirit, enhance the participation of patients and expand the scope and influence of collecting opinions.
“Healthcare is not just about treating diseases, it ’ s about caring for and protecting lives, ” said Su Yuyi, deputy general secretary of the All Union of Physicians. Since 105, doctors have been promoting shared decision-making. Instead, they discuss treatment options, risks and benefits with patients to help them make decisions that meet their values, preferences and goals.
Cai Li-chuan, deputy executive director of the Taiwan Cancer Fund, believes that at present, the participation of patients' representatives in the important decision-making meeting of health insurance is still insufficient. In the "joint drafting" meeting to decide whether drugs should be included in the health insurance payment, there are only two patients present, and informal representatives, there is still a gap in the exercise of the rights of the meeting. Members who have obtained seats by drawing lots, so that the voices of patients are easily ignored.
Competent authorities should plan a more stable and sound system for patient participation, and pay attention to the voice of patients.
Patient safety should be ensured by maintaining a stable ratio of care
According to a study by Linda Aiken, a professor at the School of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania, the probability of death of surgical patients within 30 days of admission increases by 7%.
Source: Healthnews.com https: / / www.healthnews.com.tw / readnews.php? id = 59248
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Patient advocacy groups have called on governments to address drug shortages and ensure patient access to necessary medications.

A shortage of carboplatin and other chemotherapy drugs has led to delays and cancellations of cancer treatments, putting patient lives at risk, with 93% of treatment centers reporting a carboplatin shortage in May 2023.

Title:

Content: |

FTC, US Health Dept Launch Probe Over Chemo Drug Shortages

The investigation is targeting so-called middlemen that broker deals between hospitals and pharmaceutical companies.

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Each year, roughly 2 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer, and for some, getting the proper treatment has become a very serious waiting game.

This week, the Federal Trade Commission and the US Department of Health jointly launched a probe seeking information on how middlemen — group purchasing organizations (GPOs) and drug wholesalers — may be contributing to a lack of chemotherapies and other generic drugs.

The Cost of Cheap Drugs

While various cancer treatments have gone in and out of short supply for years, the problem became particularly acute in 2023. In May, a survey from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network found that 93% of treatment centers reported they were short on carboplatin and 70% reported they were short on cisplatin. Those two drugs are used together and are prescribed to 10% to 20% of cancer patients. Those shortage rates dropped in the fall, but still sat at uncomfortably high levels, with many patients experiencing longer wait times between chemo sessions.

Access to raw materials for making drugs and an increase in patients play a part in the shortages, but the FTC and the Health Department suspect the middlemen buying and selling the medications might be at the heart of the issue:

  • Hospital transactions for medications are controlled almost entirely by three GPOs — Vizient, Premier, and HealthTrust — that purchase drugs on behalf of health centers, and three wholesalers — AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson — that supply 90% of the pharmaceuticals, The Wall Street Journal reported.
  • Doctors, drugmakers, and patient advocate groups have argued that because the three GPOs represent so many hospitals, they’re able to win extremely low prices from wholesalers. But the prices may be so low that some drugmakers slash production or stop making the drugs entirely if they feel they can no longer turn a profit.

“For years Americans have faced acute shortages of critical drugs, from chemotherapy to antibiotics, endangering patients,” said FTC Chair Lina Khan. “Our inquiry requests information on the factors driving these shortages and scrutinizes the practices of opaque drug middlemen.”

A Growing Concern: A short supply of cancer treatments isn’t a great development, especially with new evidence that the disease is on the rise among younger generations. Most cancer patients are 65 and older, but one study published in JAMA last summer found cancer rates among people 50 and younger are going up, mostly driven by women and people in their 30s.

The US FTC and Health Department are investigating chemotherapy drug shortages.

Pharmaceutical companies are criticized for prioritizing profits over producing life-saving drugs, exacerbating medication shortages.

Title:

Content: International
International News
Dependent on foreign raw materials fluctuate, big pharmaceutical companies chase short-term profit loss production
The shortage of ADHD drugs is just the tip of the iceberg of the current drug shortage in the United States. According to the FDA, more than 135 drugs are in short supply, including chemotherapy drugs for cancer.
A survey released by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) in early August showed that one-third of the 1,100 hospitals surveyed had no prescription, delayed or reduced prescriptions due to drug shortages to meet the supply window.
Expert analysis, pharmaceutical companies to pursue short-term profit first business model, so that the production of life-saving drugs and demand out of line, drug shortage problem is difficult to improve.
Experts urge pharmaceutical companies to face social responsibility
Rita Numerof, a medical industry consultant, wrote in Forbes magazine that in order to reduce costs, US pharmaceutical companies have long relied on foreign suppliers such as China, India and Italy to import raw materials for the production of drugs, which is prone to fluctuations in supply. They are looking to develop drugs that are more likely to be used for long-term diseases.
Teva, a manufacturer of ADHD drugs and the world ’ s largest generic drug manufacturer, announced earlier that it would reduce the production of some generic drugs and focus on more profitable products. Rumelove warned that if pharmaceutical companies are unwilling to address their social responsibilities and strengthen supply risk management, public trust in the pharmaceutical industry will continue to weaken, and ultimately public health and safety will pay a heavy price.
Focus on the organization to accelerate the use of new generic drugs to increase production incentives
The American Association for Access to Medicines (AAM) released a report last month, saying that because of restrictions on the supply of generic drugs, the supply price of generic drugs is limited, and the return of investment in new drugs is not high. The situation.
(Forbes / DrugTopics)
(Global Hot Talk)
Related Words: Adderall Drug Shortage Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
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FTC Chair Lina Khan has criticized the pharmaceutical industry's lack of transparency.

Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drug Company is working to reduce drug shortages and costs by offering transparent pricing and direct manufacturer partnerships.

Title:

Content: Mark Cuban's drug company inks first health system partnership to sell directly to Community Health Systems

Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company has found its first national health system buyer for hospital drugs currently in short supply.

Franklin, Tennessee-based for-profit Community Health Systems has signed onto a partnership with the billionaire-backed manufacturer to purchase pharmaceuticals like epinephrine and norepinephrine for its affiliate hospitals in Texas and Pennsylvania. The products are often used in emergency departments and intensive care units, with epinephrine currently listed on the Food and Drug Administration’s list of ongoing drug shortages.

Though the collaboration is beginning with just two states, the companies said they “expect to scale the partnership in numerous and meaningful ways.”

“Our partnership with CHS will give them access to epinephrine and norepinephrine at a transparent cost plus price,” Cuban said in a release. “This is the start of what we know will be an amazing partnership that will reduce drug shortages and drug costs and enhance the care CHS hospitals provide for their patients."

CHS spans 71 hospital affiliates with about 12,000 beds across 15 states and recently reported $12.5 billion in 2023 net operating revenues. It, like other hospitals and health systems across the country, has disclosed rising pharmaceutical spending in recent years.

The companies’ announcement framed the deal as a long-term collaboration “to address critically important issues related to drug supply in the hospital setting.”

Beyond high costs or shortages, these issues can include large amounts of pharmaceutical waste and potential dosage errors when medications need to be measured at the bedside. Cost Plus Drugs can help CHS avoid these by allowing the hospitals “more flexible ordering opportunities” including alternative vial sizes that aren’t offered by other drug manufacturers, the organizations said.

“There are many opportunities for innovation in the healthcare industry, including rethinking, and even disrupting, the way providers purchase products and services,” Lynn Simon, M.D., president of healthcare innovation and chief medical officer at CHS, said in the announcement. “Our relationship with Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company has the potential to generate significant advantages for our affiliated hospitals and for other forward-looking hospital organizations that also want to reduce costs, reduce waste, avoid drug shortages and improve patient care.”

Cost Plus Drug Company currently offers about 2,500 generic medications and works directly with drug manufacturers to bypass middlemen and lower prices. For consumers, the price of each drug includes a 15% markup as a profit margin, a $3 pharmacy handling fee and a $5 shipping fee. Cost Plus also transparently displays what it pays for its medicines.

The company has proven itself a disrupter on both generic drug pricing and the drug benefits market, where it currently works with at least four pharmacy benefit managers and supplanted major names like CVS Health’s Caremark with its inaugural payer deals.

Of note, the CHS partnership announcement comes just days after Cost Plus Drug Company kicked off manufacturing of generic sterile injectables at a new 22,000-square-foot, $11 million facility it built in Dallas. That plant is outfitted with aseptic robotic manufacturing lines and is slated to initially produce commercial batches of epinephrine and norepinephrine with pediatric chemotherapy products next in line.

During a roundtable discussion held this week at the White House, Cuban admitted that that Cost Plus Drug Company is “not making money yet” but promised the business will eventually become self-sustainable.

The company has partnered with Community Health Systems to manufacture generic sterile injectables and reduce costs.

Addressing medication shortages will require a coordinated effort from healthcare systems, pharmaceutical companies, and patient advocacy groups.

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

Medicine shortages have increased worldwide over the past decade, requiring a multi-stakeholder response to ensure patient safety.

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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Patients can consult pharmacists or healthcare professionals about medication shortages and potential alternatives.

The FDA tracks US drug shortages and has allowed importation of some overseas chemotherapy drugs.

Congress has been urged to address the underlying causes of medication shortages.

The American Society of Health System Pharmacists has advised the government on addressing medication shortages through improved transparency and coordination.

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. ”

The US White House has proposed $3.26-5.11 billion to address medication shortages and improve the drug supply chain.

The FDA needs more power to access information about drug shortages and manufacturers should be more transparent.

The EU plans to tighten drug controls, track supply chains, and introduce mutual assistance to reduce medication shortages.

Title:

Content: 19 EU countries call for reduction of dependence of pharmaceutical industry on China | Deutsche Welle Germany | DW | 07.05.2023
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19 EU countries call for reduction of dependence of pharmaceutical industry on China
According to a document released by the European Union (EU), 19 member states are pushing for measures to reduce the EU ’ s high dependence on the Chinese market for imported pharmaceutical ingredients.
Recently, the European Union (EU) proposed to amend the legal norms of the pharmaceutical industry.
The EU has a 136.9 billion euro pharmaceutical industry.
The draft law proposed by the European Commission aims to reactivate investment in the pharmaceutical industry in order to improve the supply of drugs and restore drug prices to normal.
Affected by the epidemic prevention and control, the budget in the field of health care has been seriously insufficient.
However, the countries that signed the document, including Belgium, France, Spain and Germany, asked the EU to develop a law on critical drugs to ensure the security of supply in the core drug sector.
At present, the world's drug production is highly dependent on a small number of Chinese manufacturers and the active ingredients of their drugs, which has caused concern in relevant countries.
More than 50% of the active ingredients of drugs that meet EU standards come from five Chinese companies.
The lack of regular medication supplies has been plaguing Germany for months.
“The EU has become increasingly dependent on several producers in a few regions. In 2019, globally, more than 40% of APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients) came from China.
And in the field of intermediate products, almost all API manufacturers in the world are inseparable from China. "
The European Commission plans to tighten controls on a range of key drugs to avoid an EU-wide shortage.
"The availability of these drugs must be monitored and tracked across the global supply chain in order to identify potential suppliers and weaknesses in a timely manner," the document said.
The document said that for drugs that have already been in shortage several times, the first implementation of monitoring should be carried out.
In addition, the countries concerned hope that the EU will introduce specific measures to allow countries to carry out mutual assistance actions in extreme cases where alternative suppliers and alternative medicines cannot be found.
(Reuters)
© 2023 Deutsche Welle Copyright Notice: All content in this article is protected by copyright law and may not be used without special permission from Deutsche Welle.
Any misconduct will lead to recovery and criminal prosecution.

Kuwait's Minister of Health regulates medicine dispensing and contracts with pharmaceutical suppliers through new mechanisms.

Title:

Content: Home of the Day
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Connecting 117 dispensaries and 4 public hospitals to stop waste
Minister of Health: Regulation of the dispensing of medicines for Kuwaitis
The Minister of Health dr.
Ahmed Al-Awadhi is keen to meet all the needs of health facilities of medicines and medical supplies, pointing out that the dispensing of medicines is being linked between the private and government health sector to control the dispensing of medicines to the beneficiaries of the (Afia) program.
In a speech during the discussion of the item of disclosure of papers and letters received on a number of letters received related to the shortage of medicines in the ordinary session of the National Assembly, Minister Al-Awadi pointed to communication with the concerned authorities to work on the speedy completion of the procedures of the documentary session and set the controls for this without prejudice to the role of the regulatory authorities in carrying out their duty.
He said that the reports of the strategic stock of medicines and medical supplies were carefully reviewed and work continued around the clock to strengthen it, with the decisive and categorical emphasis on the provision of all medicines similar to any medicine found in which there was some shortage, stressing that he did not and will spare no effort to hold accountable both the failure or failure to perform the role assigned to him.
He explained the long-term radical solutions that will be worked on to solve this recurring problem for years through the localization of the pharmaceutical industry and overcoming all challenges to meet the basic needs and strengthen the pharmaceutical security system in the country « because Kuwait has all the capabilities and ingredients to be a center for the pharmaceutical industry and the production of medical supplies in the region ».
He added that the radical solutions include the adoption of new mechanisms for contracting with pharmaceutical suppliers to guarantee the rights of the ministry and importers, as well as working to increase the benefit of unified collective procurement with the GCC countries quickly.
He pointed out that the committee has taken several measures to strengthen the strategic stock of medicines and medical supplies, the first of which is rationing the spending of the budget allocated to medicines and setting priorities, and the second is reducing waste in dispensing medicines through the governance of dispensing medicines and the application of digital technology to reduce any waste. for Kuwaitis.
Minister Al-Awadi pointed out that the third of these measures is to organize the documentary cycle and reduce its duration by supporting the administration with manpower and starting to adopt electronic correspondence inside and outside the administration, and the fourth of these measures is the supply of urgent batches of urgently needed medicines in coordination with the companies supplying medicines.
He added that the fifth of these measures is to increase the storage capacity of medical warehouses by providing storage spaces for medical warehouses in new hospitals and developing a system to receive medicines and supplies according to the priority of current materials.
On the sixth of these measures, Minister Al-Awadhi pointed out that it was to raise recommendations related to entities outside the ministry by providing a budget to support the item of medicines and medical supplies from the Ministry of Finance and request to give priority to the requests of the Ministry of Health to the regulatory authorities and request development on the system « Oracle » to enter financial data from the Ministry of Finance.
He pointed out that the Ministry of Health is currently studying more than one electronic program to track the movement of the dispensing of medicines, devices and pharmaceutical consumables, which contributes with it effectively to follow up the inventory and manage and strengthen the pharmaceutical security system.
Minister Al-Awadi said that on December 4, Ministerial Decree No. 372 of 2022 was issued to amend the list of medicines accompanying Ministerial Decree No. 365 of 1997 on restricting the dispensing of certain medicines to Kuwaiti patients and other specific categories of patients.
He said that books have been submitted to the concerned authorities to strengthen the strategic stock of medicines and medical supplies and requested to provide a budget of a total amount of 230 million dinars to strengthen the strategic stock of medicines and medical supplies.
He also pointed out that letters have been sent to the concerned authorities to provide storage space to strengthen the strategic stock of medicines and medical supplies and requested to provide a budget of a total amount of 30 million dinars to cover the acute shortage of storage space needed to store the strategic stock of medicines and medical supplies.
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Kuwait has strengthened its medical stock and implemented medicine rationing.

China's National Health Commission and National Drug Administration have improved the drug shortage classification and monitoring system.

Title:

Content: 【 Printing 】
2023 shortage of drugs reported information has been fully dealt with
Related LINKS http: / / www.CRNT.com 2024-03-14 15: 33: 32
Beijing, March 14 / Xinhua News Agency reported that the reporter learned from the National Health and Health Commission on the 13th, the national, provincial, municipal and county four shortage drug classification system gradually improved and effective operation, 2023 shortage drug reporting information has been fully addressed, and the temporary import work of clinically urgent drugs is done.
It is understood that in the near future, the national and provincial shortage of drug supply guarantee work will discuss the mechanism of various units to ensure the supply of stable prices as the focus, and continue to improve the classification of shortage of drugs to deal with the ability to deal with, multi-dimensional improvement of shortage of drug information monitoring.
The National Health and Health Commission relies on the national public medical and health institutions shortage of drug information direct reporting system and other monitoring conditions to carry out monitoring and early warning and regular reporting.
The State Medical Insurance Bureau continuously monitors the national shortage list of drugs and clinically necessary drugs that are vulnerable to shortage, focusing on the abnormal high prices and distribution data of the listed drugs.
The National Drug Administration continues to collect information on the production supply and shutdown reports of shortage of pharmaceutical products.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology relies on the shortage drug production supply monitoring and early warning platform to carry out dynamic monitoring and analysis.
The Ministry of Commerce organized some large pharmaceutical wholesale and retail enterprises to pay close attention to the supply and demand situation of pharmaceutical products.
At the same time, the whole chain guarantees the stable supply of shortage drugs.
The National Drug Administration continues to promote the review and approval of national shortage drug list varieties, and carries out the basic information labeling and data management of shortage drugs.
The State Medical and Health Insurance Bureau fully implements the policy of online procurement of shortage drugs, and explores the centralized procurement of shortage drugs.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology continues to support the construction of centralized production bases for small varieties of drugs, and establish regular shortages of drugs at the central and local levels.
The Ministry of Ecology and Environment takes flexible enforcement action to help enterprises rectify the situation in a timely manner if the environment of the enterprises involved in the production of pharmaceutical raw materials or preparations violates the law.
The SASAC of the State Council continues to promote state-owned enterprises to fulfill their social responsibilities in the supply of shortage drugs and play the function of "cistern".
The National Post Office continues to promote the construction of a comprehensive postal service platform, supporting the postal group to give full play to its network advantages and continuously improve its medical distribution service capabilities.
In addition, strengthen the enforcement of illegal acts.
The General Administration of Market Supervision investigates and punishes illegal acts such as monopoly in the field of pharmaceutical products according to law, and plays a warning and education role in major typical cases.
The General Administration of Taxation further increased the investigation and punishment of tax violations by some pharmaceutical enterprises, and standardized the tax order in the pharmaceutical field.
According to the clues of the problem and illegal facts, the National Medical Insurance Bureau talked about the relevant pharmaceutical companies to reduce the level of drug prices involved, and block the chain of benefits of manufacturing shortages and monopoly price increases.
【 Printing 】
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The Chinese government has established a platform to track and address drug shortages.

The EU has proposed a law to reduce dependence on China for pharmaceuticals and improve drug supply and prices.

The EU proposes a Critical Medicines Alliance to monitor frequently shortage drugs.

Title:

Content: Brussels is planning for EU countries to share vital medicines and take emergency measures to avoid a repeat of shortages that hit the bloc a year ago.

The European Commission is proposing a “voluntary solidarity mechanism” requested by France and Germany and an early warning system flagging when drugs become scarce, according to draft proposals seen by the Financial Times. If insufficient donors come forward, EU capitals will be allowed to tap into an EU-funded stockpile set up during the Covid-19 pandemic and take other emergency measures.

In December and January western countries suffered a shortage of antibiotics including penicillin and amoxicillin, and painkillers such as paracetamol, especially in medicines used by children.

Among the emergency measures floated to prevent a repeat of that crisis, the commission could allow the extension of a drug’s shelf life, fast track approvals of alternative suppliers and support production increases.

Brussels will also encourage joint procurement of drugs from 2024 and medicine swaps with countries in the southern hemisphere, where peak winter demand happens at a different time.

The commission will draw up guidance for national stockpiles in 2024 and establish a Critical Medicines Alliance bringing governments, industry and civil society together. The commission declined to comment.

Three-quarters of countries reported a worsening of drug shortages in 2022, according to an industry survey. EU manufacturing is heavily reliant on imported active pharmaceutical ingredients from China and India.

Rising demand and disruption to supply chains have been compounded by inflation hitting the production of generic drugs, which typically sell at much lower prices than branded versions.

France has been actively encouraging the reshoring of basic medicine supply, with a giant paracetamol factory set to open in the country next year.

The EU is discussing whether to provide more funding for domestic production.

The commission’s proposal is scheduled to be approved on October 25 and could still change. Initially non-binding, it could lead to a Critical Medicines Act, with Brussels drawing up a list of vital medicines by year-end.

The commission also urges member states and the European parliament to approve its overhaul of pharmaceutical legislation, put forward in April. It includes plans to take control of drug production in the event of a public health emergency, a requirement for stockholders to inform Brussels of supply levels and for manufacturers to give early warnings of shortages.

An analysis by the European Medicines Agency and the commission found that unless there is unexpected demand the EU should avoid an antibiotics shortage this year.

“The information available today suggests that — if demand in the coming winter season does not differ significantly from the demand of recent years — the supply to the EU of key antibiotics seems to generally match demand,” the analysis said.

“However, this depends strongly on the compliance of industry with their legal obligations to ensure supply and their ability to adapt.”

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2023. All rights reserved.
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The FDA disseminates information on drug supplies and alternatives to address medication shortages.

Title:

Content: The lack of medicine continues to burn!
The Ministry of Health and Welfare has proposed a short, medium and long-term strategy to deal with the current 5 coping mechanisms.
Journalist Yen Zhenzhen / Taipei Report
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the shortage of drugs is not a single factor, but includes supply problems, manufacturing problems, clinical demand factors, uneven distribution of drugs, drug use habits and drug prices. In addition to dealing with the relatively high clinical demand items, it is properly allocated to all levels of medical institutions and pharmacies to fully meet the needs of clinical end-use drugs.
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In the face of the shortage of drugs, Wang said, the existing health insurance uses five major coping mechanisms, including 1, a single processing window, a dedicated person to help deal with the problem of drug purchase, and contact the Food and Drug Administration to put relevant information on the website of the NHI. (4) Drug price adjustment mechanism that does not meet the cost can be re-checked according to the way of raising the price of special drugs; (5) Alternative drugs can still declare the cost, if they are not irreplaceable, they can be replaced at the same price or lower than the original prescription drug price.
In addition, Wang pointed out that in the face of the international epidemic, the Russian-Ukrainian war, and labor shortage, drug shortage is a problem facing all countries. In order to strengthen the stable supply mechanism of drugs in China, the Ministry of Health and Welfare continues to actively respond to the short-term strategy to solve the problem of drug shortage. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the pharmaceutical industry have made every effort to actively arrange production lines, strive for early import, increase production / import quantity, and properly distribute to all levels of medical institutions and pharmacies to fully meet the demand for clinical end use drugs.
In addition, to properly handle the issue of drug price adjustment, the Central Health Insurance Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare intends to implement the "Universal Health Insurance Cost Distribution Target System (DET)" in April this year, which will adjust the number of drug prices and adjust the quota in a suitable manner, taking into account factors such as the epidemic, the Russian-Ukrainian war and inflation.
In terms of medium-term strategy, Wang said that he will establish a permanent drug shortage treatment center and optimize drug supply information transmission.
In order to speed up the handling of drug shortage incidents, we will adopt dedicated personnel and cross-departmental cooperation to develop drug shortage prevention policies to prevent drug shortage in advance, strengthen cross-departmental data integration and proactive monitoring to detect drug shortage incidents at an early stage, and intervene early through cross-departmental cooperation to stabilize drug supply.
At the same time, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to disseminate drug supply and alternative drug information through various channels. In addition to posting on the “Drug Supply Information Platform ”, the FDA will notify medical institutions and pharmacies through VPN, and weekly letters to relevant medical associations and public associations to inform members. Management system.
In the long-term strategy section, it includes reviewing the current health insurance drug pricing policy and encouraging the production of domestically manufactured generic drugs.
Wang Bi-sheng pointed out that in the review of the current health insurance drug price policy, including the development of the price protection of indicative drugs, drug price review for the lack of drugs; start the review of drug expenditure target (DET), plan the establishment of a risk control mechanism, plan the national unified procurement trial plan; comprehensively review the health insurance drug price policy, give an appropriate price protection mechanism for necessary drugs, and also target the patent period. To encourage the production of domestic manufacturers to ensure that when there is a shortage of original pharmaceutical products, there are domestic famous drugs to respond.
Wang also stressed that the Food and Drug Administration has set up a "Drug Supply Information Platform" (https: / / dsms.fda.gov.tw /), reporting hotline (02) 27878249. If medical institutions and pharmacies have any shortage of drugs, they can go to the platform for enquiry or notification, and the department will deal with it immediately.
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Kuwait's Ministry of Health has proposed strategies to address medicine shortages, including a permanent drug shortage treatment center.

Labor shortages have disrupted 60% of pharmacies' supply chains.

The key performance indicators (KPIs) for medication shortage mitigation strategies include medication accuracy, patient satisfaction, financial performance, patient safety, and inventory management.

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Content: Pharmacists KPI Tracking Template

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Tracking the performance of pharmacists is essential for pharmaceutical companies and healthcare organizations to maintain high standards of patient care and business success. With ClickUp's Pharmacists KPI Tracking Template, you can easily monitor and evaluate key performance indicators that matter most in the pharmacy industry.

This template empowers you to:

  • Track medication accuracy and ensure patient safety
  • Manage inventory efficiently to avoid stockouts and wastage
  • Measure patient satisfaction and identify areas for improvement
  • Monitor medication adherence and optimize patient outcomes
  • Implement effective medication therapy management practices
  • Evaluate financial performance and identify opportunities for growth

Stay on top of your pharmacy operations and drive excellence with ClickUp's Pharmacists KPI Tracking Template. Start optimizing your pharmacy performance today!

Benefits of Pharmacists KPI Tracking Template

Pharmacists KPI Tracking Template allows pharmaceutical companies and healthcare organizations to effectively measure and evaluate pharmacist performance, leading to:

  • Improved medication accuracy and patient safety
  • Enhanced inventory management, reducing waste and ensuring availability of essential medications
  • Increased patient satisfaction through personalized care and efficient service
  • Better medication adherence, promoting positive health outcomes for patients
  • Effective medication therapy management, optimizing patient health and reducing healthcare costs
  • Improved financial performance through cost control and revenue generation

Main Elements of Pharmacists KPI Tracking Template

ClickUp's Pharmacists KPI Tracking template is the perfect tool to track and analyze key performance indicators in your pharmacy. Here are the main elements of this template:

  • Custom Statuses: Monitor the progress of your KPIs with statuses such as Completed, Off Track, On Track, Not Started, and At Risk, ensuring that you have a clear overview of each KPI's current status

  • Custom Fields: Utilize 7 custom fields including Progress, Department, Target Value, Actual Value, KPI, Difference, and Variance, to accurately measure and compare your KPIs, allowing you to easily identify areas for improvement

  • Custom Views: Access 5 different views tailored to your needs, such as the Summary view for an overview of all KPIs, the Getting Started Guide view to assist you in setting up your tracking process, the Departmental OKR view to align your KPIs with departmental goals, the Progress view to monitor the progress of each KPI, and the Timeline view to visualize the timeline of your KPIs

  • Reporting and Analytics: Leverage ClickUp's powerful reporting and analytics features to gain insights and generate comprehensive reports on your KPIs, helping you make data-driven decisions and drive performance improvement in your pharmacy

How to Use KPIs for Pharmacists

Tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) is crucial for pharmacists to measure and improve their performance. Here are four steps to effectively use the Pharmacists KPI Tracking Template in ClickUp:

1. Identify relevant KPIs

Before using the template, determine which KPIs are most important for your pharmacy. These may include metrics like prescription volume, medication adherence rates, patient satisfaction scores, and inventory turnover. By selecting the most relevant KPIs, you can focus on tracking and improving areas that have the greatest impact on your pharmacy's success.

Use custom fields in ClickUp to track each specific KPI and set targets for each one.

2. Input data regularly

Consistently update the template with data related to your selected KPIs. This could involve recording the number of prescriptions filled, tracking patient feedback, or monitoring inventory levels. Regularly inputting accurate data allows you to analyze trends, identify areas for improvement, and make informed decisions to optimize your pharmacy's performance.

Use the Table view in ClickUp to input and organize your KPI data in a structured and easily accessible format.

3. Analyze and interpret the data

Once you have accumulated sufficient data, analyze and interpret the results to gain valuable insights. Look for patterns or trends that may indicate areas of success or areas that require attention. For example, you might discover that patient satisfaction scores are lower during certain hours of the day, prompting you to adjust staffing schedules. By understanding the data, you can make data-driven decisions to enhance your pharmacy's performance.

Use the Dashboard feature in ClickUp to visualize your KPI data through charts and graphs, making it easier to identify trends and patterns.

4. Set goals and track progress

Based on your analysis, set specific goals for each KPI and track your progress over time. These goals could include increasing prescription volume by a certain percentage, improving medication adherence rates, or reducing inventory holding costs. By setting measurable goals and monitoring your progress, you can stay motivated and take proactive steps to achieve continuous improvement.

Use the Goals feature in ClickUp to set and track your KPI-related goals, ensuring that you stay focused and accountable for reaching them.

By following these four steps and utilizing ClickUp's features, you can effectively track and improve your pharmacy's key performance indicators, ultimately enhancing patient care and optimizing your pharmacy's success.

Get Started with ClickUp’s Pharmacists KPI Tracking Template

Pharmacy managers and healthcare organizations can use this Pharmacists KPI Tracking Template to effectively monitor and evaluate key performance indicators for pharmacists.

First, hit “Add Template” to sign up for ClickUp and add the template to your Workspace. Make sure you designate which Space or location in your Workspace you’d like this template applied.

Next, invite relevant members or guests to your Workspace to start collaborating.

Now you can take advantage of the full potential of this template to track and improve pharmacy performance:

  • Use the Summary View to get an overview of all the key metrics and performance indicators
  • The Getting Started Guide View will provide step-by-step instructions on how to set up and utilize the template effectively
  • Utilize the Departmental OKR View to align pharmacists' goals with the overall department objectives and track progress
  • The Progress View will help you track the status of each KPI, including Completed, Off Track, On Track, Not Started, and At Risk
  • Use the Timeline View to visualize the progress and performance trends over time
  • Assign tasks and set due dates for each KPI to ensure accountability and timely completion
  • Monitor and analyze the KPIs to identify areas of improvement and optimize pharmacy operations.

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    • 🏆 COMPLETED, 👎 OFF TRACK, 🥇 ON TRACK, ⏱ NOT STARTED, ⚠ AT RISK

  • Progress (%)
  • Department
  • Target Value
  • Actual Value
  • KPI
  • Difference
  • Variance

  • Summary
  • Getting Started Guide
  • Departmental OKR
  • Progress
  • Timeline
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KPIs measure progress toward specific goals and track the effectiveness of medication shortage mitigation strategies.

Title:

Content: Economy
Hsu Chien-sheng Frontier Technology
Investment Strategy
Hsu Kin-sheng: The government can adopt OKR that exceeds the KPI
[Ming Pao News] One of the most talked about by Chief Executive Li Jiachao of the current SAR Government is KPIs (Key Performance Indicators). Over 200 KPIs were established in the past year, including the policy address.
The author believes that it is important to have KPI, a hard indicator of review efficiency, but it would be better for the management to measure the effectiveness of the review by adopting the OKR that is used to adjust the review results.
In recent years, the Government has faced increasing challenges to demonstrate its effectiveness in addressing the needs of the public.
Traditionally, key performance indicators (KPIs) have been used as a tool to assess the success of various public sector initiatives.
However, the author believes that the use of KPIs alone may not be enough to truly assess and improve government performance.
A more comprehensive and results-oriented approach, called Objectives and Key Results (OKR), can be a co-existing solution.
So why should governments go beyond KPIs and adopt OKR as their primary performance measurement framework?
A KPI is a quantitative measure used to track progress toward a specific goal or goal.
They help provide a snapshot of organizational performance, but may be deficient in the following areas:
1.
Narrow focus: KPIs often focus on specific metrics and quantifiable goals, which can lead to a narrow understanding of organizational performance and an overemphasis on achieving short-term goals, thereby neglecting long-term goals and overall mission.
2.
Passive rather than proactive: KPIs often measure output or results rather than desired results.
As a result, they may be passive, with the organization reacting only to changes in the KPI rather than actively working towards its goals.
3.
Lack of alignment: KPIs are often isolated in separate departments or initiatives, which can make it difficult to align efforts across the organization, resulting in inefficiencies and missed opportunities.
This is also the situation in which the author has observed a serious coordination imbalance between different government departments for many years, because the executive officials only focus on departmental indicators and lack the consideration of the overall thinking of the final result.
In 1999, John Doerr introduced the OKR method from Intel to Google, and in the process of operation, fully activated Google's employees and organizational vitality, LinkedIn, Dropbox, Twitter, Oracle and other enterprises have introduced the OKR method, and achieved good results.
OKR is a more comprehensive and flexible way to measure performance.
They consist of two main components: goals, which represent comprehensive goals or desired outcomes, and key outcomes, which are specific, measurable, and time-bound indicators to track progress towards these goals.
Benefits of OKR include:
1.
Results-Oriented: OKR focuses on desired outcomes and promotes a common understanding of what success looks like.
This can help governments focus on achieving long-term goals and addressing the root causes of problems, rather than just reacting to short-term fluctuations in performance.
2.
Alignment and Collaboration: OKR facilitates collaboration and alignment across departments by connecting individual goals with broader organizational goals.
This fosters a sense of common purpose and encourages teams to work together to achieve common goals, thereby increasing efficiency and effectiveness.
3.
Adaptability: OKR is inherently flexible, enabling organizations to respond to changing situations and priorities.
Governments can easily adjust their OKRs as new information or challenges emerge, ensuring that their performance measurement frameworks remain relevant and responsive.
Looking to adopt OKR should consider the following steps:
1.
Set clear goals: identify the most pressing issues facing citizens and set clear goals to address these challenges.
2.
Define measurable key outcomes: Set specific, quantifiable, and time-bound key outcomes as indicators of progress toward each goal.
Ensure they are results-oriented and focus on improving the lives of citizens.
3.
Cross-Sector Alignment OKR: Connecting individual sector OKRs to goals across the government, facilitating collaboration and alignment.
4.
Monitor progress and iterate: Regularly review and evaluate the progress of OKR and adjust it as needed to respond to new information or changes.
By targeting project-specific KPIs and adopting OKR as a holistic mindset, governments can better measure their performance, align their efforts, and ultimately deliver better outcomes for their citizens.
If the Government accepts this approach, we can expect improved public sector performance and greater accountability in addressing the needs and priorities of its clients, ultimately delivering the best outcomes for Hong Kong ’ s development from “what I want ” to“ what I want ” to “what I do ” to“ what I want ”.
Chairman of the Hong Kong Computer Association and Convenor of the Meta Universe Industry Alliance
(Criticism in articles published by this website is aimed at pointing out errors or deficiencies in relevant systems, policies or measures, with the aim of correcting or eliminating these errors or deficiencies and improving them through lawful means, with no intention of inciting hatred, dissatisfaction or hostility towards the government or other communities.)
[Hsu Chien-sheng Frontier Technology]
Previous / Next News

Manufacturing and quality issues, supply chain gaps, and downtime commonly cause medication shortages.

Lack of transparency hinders mitigation efforts, making clear tracking and reporting mechanisms essential.

Medication shortages have a moderate to significant impact on patient care, forcing delays, cancellations, or rationing of treatments.

Pharmacists have developed coping strategies, such as alternative treatments and rationing, to manage medicine shortages.

The pharmaceutical industry's transformation is driven by innovation, including machine learning and data analytics.

Title:

Content: Resilience, sustainable supply chains are crucial to pharma sector

Sustainability and innovation are the main forces behind the pharmaceutical industry's transformation from suppliers to innovators. The panellists participating in The ETPharma’s Future-Ready Pharma Supply Chain Summit discussion on ‘Trilogue: Navigating Sustainability, Risk, and Resilience in Pharma Supply Chains’ emphasised the importance of sustainability, as it is both a competitive advantage and a moral requirement. Pharmaceutical firms can reduce risks, improve their brand, and attract more environmentally concerned customers by investing in sustainable practices and technologies.

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  • Updated On Mar 15, 2024 at 05:33 PM IST
By Prabhat Prakash & Prarthana Sharma

Mumbai: Resilient supply chains are crucial for the pharmaceutical business in an era of global uncertainties like pandemics, geopolitical tensions, and environmental challenges. With the increasing global dependence on pharmaceuticals, it is critical to guarantee a consistent and unbroken supply of vital medications.

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The ETPharma’s Future-Ready Pharma Supply Chain Summit, themed ‘Resilience, Integrity, and Sustainability’ featured an insightful panel discussion on ‘Trilogue: Navigating Sustainability, Risk, and Resilience in Pharma Supply Chains’. The panellists for the session included Sanjay Kumar, Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer, Granules India Limited; Chirag Mehta, Chief Financial Officer, Bharat Serums and Vaccines Limited; and Sugeet Chopra, SVP, Global SCM, Strides Pharma Science Limited. The discussion was moderated by Shantanu Bhadkamkar, Chairman, Maharashtra State Development Council, ASSOCHAM.

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Sustainability and innovation are the main forces behind the pharmaceutical industry's transformation from suppliers to innovators. The importance of sustainability was emphasised by the panellists as both a competitive advantage and a moral requirement. Pharmaceutical firms can reduce risks, improve their brand, and attract more environmentally concerned customers by investing in sustainable practices and technologies.

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Starting with the discussion, Bhadkamkar emphasised that developing an organisational culture of collaboration across various departments and functions, putting employee growth and well-being first, and proactively identifying and mitigating risks before they worsen are all important aspects of investing in resilience. Organisations can guarantee that their staff is competent and driven, able to drive innovation and adjust to changing circumstances. When different viewpoints are brought together through cross-functional collaboration, problem-solving and decision-making become more efficient.

He also said that improving resilience in the pharmaceutical sector requires investing in sustainable practices and implementing a sustainable approach to business operations. Sustainable practices cover a wide range of topics, such as ethical raw material procurement, ecologically friendly production techniques, and conscientious waste management. Pharmaceutical firms can lessen regulatory risks, improve stakeholder relations, and lessen their environmental impact by putting sustainability first.

The panellists emphasised the significance of resilience in navigating the ever-changing global markets, which is characterised as the capacity to handle changes without negative consequences. As they emphasised the necessity to anticipate and prepare for unforeseen events, such as supply chain interruptions or geopolitical concerns, while maintaining a careful balance between efficiency and reactivity.

As the discussion continued, it emphasised organisational, technological, and cultural obstacles as impediments to developing resilient supply chains. A narrow focus on immediate profitability and a lack of attention to resilience in corporate goals were examples of cultural impediments. The requirement for improved data analytics and technology adoption to effectively forecast and manage hazards was the main source of technological hurdles. Resilience was also shown to be hindered by organisational constraints, such as transactional ties with suppliers and compartmentalised operations.

To tackle these obstacles, the strategy needs to underline the necessity of top-down leadership commitment to fund, prioritise, and cultivate a collaborative and innovative culture. The adoption of technology was emphasised as being essential for gathering insights and controlling risks, especially in data analytics and predictive modelling. Furthermore, it incorporates flexibility and redundancy.

Mehta added that the key to strengthening an organisation's ability to manage risks, including geopolitical uncertainties, is to keep operations sustainable. He highlighted how crucial it is to take preventative action to deal with anticipated problems like geopolitical tensions, economic volatility, or regulatory changes, how dynamic business settings are, and how businesses must constantly innovate and change to be resilient and sustainable in the face of changing conditions.

He further added that investing in reliable IT infrastructure and data security measures is one of the many components that go into building resilience. An organisation can strengthen its technical infrastructure to stave off interruptions and cyber risks by allowing employees to invest in IT systems. To protect sensitive data and vital activities, this entails putting advanced monitoring systems, data encryption, frequent backups, and cybersecurity measures into place.

Chopra highlighted a difficulty faced by firms in supply chain management where the focus is often constrained to short-term goals and immediate concerns, leaving out the need for long-term resilience. He highlighted that resilience entails not just withstanding disruptions but also efficiently recovering from them. The ability of a system to tolerate disruptive influences without failing is referred to as resistance. In the meantime, recovery refers to the system's ability to recover from these disturbances, return to normal operation, and adjust to new conditions. These elements work together to provide resilience, which enables systems to overcome obstacles, withstand shocks, and eventually prosper in the face of difficulty.

Resilience and sustainability are becoming crucial requirements for pharmaceutical supply chain management. The COVID-19 epidemic prompted industry participants to reassess their plans by serving as a sharp warning of the vulnerabilities present in global supply chains. It is critical to create robust supply chains that can handle disruptions without suffering negative effects. Resilience in supply chains is comparable to a sponge that absorbs force without breaking; it requires strong risk management procedures, technological investment, and capacity planning.

A new era of decision-making in the pharmaceutical sector is being ushered in by innovation, notably in the use of new technologies. Businesses are using cutting-edge technology, such as machine learning and data analytics, to improve operational effectiveness and foresee potential difficulties. This focus on innovation goes beyond technology to include sustainability programmes meant to lessen their negative effects on the environment and promote accountability in business.

Environmental, social, and governance, or ESG, aspects are becoming more and more important in the pharmaceutical sector, having an impact on corporate strategies and investment decisions. A growing number of investors are giving companies with robust ESG policies a top priority, seeing the long-term benefits of sustainability programmes. Promoting an innovative culture and advancing sustainability goals inside firms depend on effective communication.

Global trends and changing market demands are causing major changes in the pharmaceutical business in Indonesia and India. Opportunities abound for firms eager to embrace innovation, sustainability, and resilience in this changing world.

The panel concluded on the note that resilience and sustainable supply chains are crucial as the pharmaceutical sector continues to negotiate in a challenging and quickly changing environment. By adopting sustainability, innovation, and resilience as guiding concepts, businesses can reduce risks, grab expansion possibilities, and set themselves apart from competitors. To protect public health and guarantee a sustainable future for all stakeholders, the industry experts' insights highlight the necessity of proactive policies, cooperative collaborations, and continuous investment in creating resilient and sustainable supply chains.
  • Published On Mar 15, 2024 at 05:33 PM IST

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Pharmaceutical companies are using technology like artificial intelligence to improve supply chain management and reduce medication shortages.

Title:

Content: How has the pandemic changed Pharma's outlook towards technology?

Pharma companies have created a more patient-centric ecosystem due to the increased use of automation, digital and analytical tools. They are now focusing on reorganizing their assets and supply chain with more agility and transparency.

By Gaurav Gupta

The Pharmaceutical industry has been a relatively slow respondent to the adoption of new technologies. However, the COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst to this long-brewing revolutionary change of the industry, making it highly responsive and adaptive. Right from the entire supply chain to producing drugs and conducting clinical trials, pharma companies are relying on technology to create a digitally driven medical world. Many well-established pharma players have redefined their supply chain management, managing safety at work and following government orders while producing vaccines and drugs.

As a result, pharma companies have created a more patient-centric ecosystem due to the increased use of automation, digital and analytical tools. They are now focusing on reorganizing their assets and supply chain with more agility and transparency. As the sector moved towards the path of crisis management and recovery, companies have re-evaluated their business models and changed their outlook towards technology.

Digital engagement with doctors

The COVID-19 pandemic has proved to be a tipping point and changed the way doctors engage with patients. This has prompted pharma companies to redefine their approach to marketing to doctors. Before the onset of the pandemic, pharma representatives spent most of their time traveling and waiting outside of doctors' offices, which also affected their work efficiency and led to infrequent visits. According to a research report, doctors on average spare only about 40-45 seconds for a pharma representative that results in lesser interaction with the doctor. In the wake of COVID-19, healthcare practitioners have restricted physical meetings and moved to teleconsultation for remote patients’ screening. With doctor visits moving online as well as in-person consultation, pharma companies focus on both physical and digital interaction through calls, video, text, email, and WhatsApp messages.

As per a recent report, doctors in India prefer communication via WhatsApp which has more than 3.5 times higher click rate than email and 24 times higher rate than SMS. Considering the opportunities in digital communication tools, pharma marketers also focus on sharing engaging content with doctors through digital mediums. With this, the average engagement has reached 20+ doctors from 8 to 10 doctors a day.
On the other hand, the changes in the pharma industry due to technology adoption are revolutionizing patient engagement. Pharma companies emphasize crafting digital marketing strategies to empower patients with more information that increases their role in decision making and enables them to manage their well-being. Furthermore, the companies adopt the right patient engagement strategies to gather data and gain useful insights, which in turn improves patient experience and R&D.
Leveraging the use of data generated through medical devices

With a multitude of wearables, trackers, and sensors available in the market, it has become easier for pharma companies to gain insights into patient behaviour. The pharma players can take advantage of robust data sets to optimize clinical trials. Apart from this, the integration of AI in real-time medical devices and digitization of medical records (EMRs) have become critical components of clinical trials for pharma companies.

The availability of data sets creates significant Real-World Evidence (RWE) studies that reduce the clinical product development cycle. Based on patient’s characteristics and data gathered, pharma companies identify unmet needs of the medical world. Furthermore, data gathered from wearables help in decision-making at an early stage of product development that further helps in understanding how patients respond to a particular drug. As a result, the manufacturer gains speed and accuracy in product development while eliminating unnecessary costs.

Integration of AI in drug development

The Pharma industry experiences a high attrition rate in drug development. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), almost 50% of all experimental drugs fail in Phase III trials. To overcome these challenges, the pandemic has induced opportunities for pharma companies to integrate AI in their drug development process. AI uses personified knowledge and presents solutions to complex problems. Due to increased R&D costs, there is reduced efficiency and speed in drug development, causing a high attrition rate in new drug approvals. Thus, pharma companies are finding ways to collaborate with AI-powered drug discovery firms to improve the efficiency of drug development and bring revolutionary changes in the traditional development process.

Bottomline

Though the pharma industry was realizing the potential of advanced technologies, COVID-19 is the first humanitarian crisis that accelerated the adoption of digital practices in the industry. Digital Practices are not only helping pharma companies engage with physicians digitally, but it also helps in providing an improved and personalized customer experience. By opting for offline and digital marketing mix, pharma companies can realize the benefit of cost-saving and operational efficiencies even after the pandemic subdues. Consequently, it will empower pharma companies to ensure an efficient pharma marketing strategy.

By Gaurav Gupta, Co-Founder of Navia Life Care- a health tech startup

(DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and ETHealthworld.com does not necessarily subscribe to it. ETHealthworld.com shall not be responsible for any damage caused to any person/organisation directly or indirectly.)

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Blockchain technology improves medical supply chains by enhancing security, integrity, authenticity, and traceability.

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Content:
Blockchain Technology In Healthcare Market To Increase USD 750 Billion By 2033 | Public Network Types To Be The Major Contributing Segment

(MENAFN- GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) New York, Jan. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the market, the Blockchain Technology in Healthcare Market size is projected to reach around USD 750 billion by 2033, indicating substantial growth when compared to the 2023 valuation of USD 3.9 billion . This remarkable expansion is anticipated to occur at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 69.2% during the forecast period from 2024 to 2033.

Blockchain technology is making significant strides in healthcare, employing decentralized ledgers for heightened security and streamlined processes. This digital ledger, comprised of linked and encrypted transaction blocks, ensures data integrity. It promotes interoperability, offering a standardized and secure channel for healthcare entities to exchange information. Patients gain control over their health data, dictating access permissions. Administrative processes like billing and supply chain management benefit from blockchain, enhancing efficiency and reducing costs. Smart contracts automate agreements, particularly useful in insurance claims and billing, minimizing intermediary involvement.

Blockchain Technology in Healthcare Market caters to industry-specific solutions and services, experiencing growth as its advantages in data security and efficiency gain recognition. Key components include Platform Providers, Application Developers, Service Providers, and Regulatory Compliance Solutions. Market drivers include the demand for secure health data, regulatory support, and increasing digital health adoption. Challenges involve regulatory uncertainty and the need for industry collaboration.

MDS Mexico launched a Blockchain-based COVID-19 test service in October 2021, enhancing vaccination certificate authenticity verification. The pandemic has accelerated healthcare adoption. IBM's Rapid Supplier Connect and China's hospitals implementing blockchain for COVID-19 medication tracking highlight practical applications. Blockchain is an emerging technology, with stakeholders proposing use cases to increase awareness. IBM's low-cost platform for startups and initiatives like Synaptic Health Alliance with major healthcare companies reflect growing market interest. HMS Holdings and technology providers like Cerner and Allscripts explore blockchain's potential to revolutionize healthcare problem-solving, driving market growth.

The report provides a full list of key companies, their strategies, and the latest developments. Download a PDF Sample before buying @ request-sample/

Key Takeaway:

  • Anticipated Market Growth : Projected to achieve a USD 750 billion valuation by 2033, showcasing an impressive 69.2% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) from 2024 to 2033, surpassing the 2023 valuation of USD 3.9 billion .
  • Analysis of Network Types : The public segment takes the lead with a 56.8% market share, underscoring the significance of data sharing.
  • Application Landscape : Supply Chain Management emerges as the dominant segment with a 26.2% market share.
  • End-user Perspective : Biopharmaceutical & Medical Device Companies lead the pack with a commanding 41.4% market share.
  • Regional Leadership : Europe asserts dominance with a 33% market share and a value of USD 1.3 billion , driven by advanced infrastructure and GDPR compliance. North America and Asia-Pacific intensify efforts to narrow the gap.

Factors affecting the growth of the Blockchain Technology in Healthcare industry

Various factors influence the growth of Blockchain Technology in the Healthcare market are;

  • Security and Privacy Concerns: Security and privacy are critical factors in the healthcare industry. Blockchain's decentralized and immutable nature ensures data integrity and prevents unauthorized access. The use of cryptographic techniques in blockchain enhances the security of health records, protecting sensitive patient information from potential breaches. As healthcare organizations increasingly prioritize data security, the adoption of blockchain technology becomes more attractive.
  • Interoperability and Data Standardization: Healthcare systems often struggle with interoperability issues, hindering the seamless exchange of medical data among different entities. Blockchain's ability to create a unified and standardized platform for data sharing can address interoperability challenges. By providing a common framework for data storage and exchange, blockchain facilitates the integration of diverse healthcare systems, leading to improved collaboration and more efficient patient care.
  • Data Integrity and Traceability: Maintaining the integrity of healthcare data is crucial for accurate diagnoses and effective treatment plans. Blockchain's distributed ledger technology ensures the immutability and transparency of data, reducing the risk of errors or fraudulent activities. The ability to trace the origin and changes made to each piece of information is particularly valuable in healthcare, where the accuracy of patient records can have a direct impact on medical outcomes.
  • Regulatory Compliance and Smart Contracts: The healthcare industry is subject to strict regulatory standards to protect patient rights and ensure quality care. Blockchain can streamline compliance processes by providing a tamper-resistant record of transactions. Smart contracts, self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into code, can automate and enforce compliance with regulatory requirements. This can lead to greater efficiency in areas such as insurance claims processing, reducing administrative overhead and improving overall regulatory adherence.

Regional Analysis

In 2023, Europe emerged as the leader in the global blockchain technology in the healthcare market, commanding an impressive 33% share and reaching a market value of USD 1.3 billion . The reason for this domination is the extensive use of digital technologies and sophisticated healthcare infrastructure, which have made the perfect conditions for the effective implementation of blockchain technology. Governments and healthcare organizations in Europe made significant investments in technology-driven projects, creating an environment that supported the creation of blockchain applications. Healthcare firms are turning to blockchain for secure and transparent data management, assuring compliance, in response to stricter data protection rules, such as GDPR. Innovative solutions suited to regional healthcare concerns were the result of collaborations among European healthcare institutions, research groups, and blockchain suppliers. North America and Asia-Pacific are aggressively bridging the gap through strategic partnerships, research expenditures, and legislative breakthroughs while Europe continues to hold the lead.

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Scope of the Report

Report Attributes Details
Market Value (2023) USD 3.9 Billion
Forecast Revenue 2033 USD 750 Billion
CAGR (2024 to 2033) 69.2%
Europe Revenue Share 33%
Base Year 2023
Historic Period 2018 to 2022
Forecast Year 2024 to 2033

Market Drivers

Blockchain technology has gained widespread acceptance in the healthcare sector, addressing the escalating concern for data security. Its decentralized and immutable nature ensures tamper-proof integrity of patient records, serving as a robust safeguard. This unique tool empowers healthcare data management organizations to uphold confidentiality and trustworthiness. Acting as a catalyst, blockchain enhances interoperability among diverse healthcare systems, fostering seamless data sharing among providers. This not only promotes collaboration but also reduces redundant tests, ultimately enhancing patient care. Furthermore, blockchain proves instrumental in optimizing healthcare operations, streamlining administrative tasks, billing, claims processing, and supply chain management. The technology's transparency and efficiency lead to cost savings, fortifying healthcare infrastructures. Additionally, the integration of smart contracts within blockchain revolutionizes healthcare transactions, automating processes like insurance claims and payment settlements. This innovation reduces errors and accelerates transaction processes, exemplifying a transformative advancement in healthcare efficiency.

Market Restraints

Healthcare organizations confront distinctive challenges hindering the seamless integration of blockchain technology. Stringent regulatory frameworks contribute to uncertainty and slow adoption as institutions grapple with evolving compliance requirements. Legacy system compatibility issues further impede progress, as outdated hospital systems prove time-consuming and costly to integrate with blockchain. Interoperability suffers due to a lack of standardized protocols, limiting the technology's potential benefits. Industry-wide standards are crucial for addressing these challenges effectively. Privacy concerns add complexity, as the transparency inherent in blockchain may clash with regulations, necessitating a delicate balance between transparency and patient privacy. Successfully navigating these hurdles is essential for healthcare institutions aiming to implement blockchain successfully.

Market Opportunities

Blockchain is reshaping healthcare supply chain management by enhancing transparency and traceability, safeguarding against counterfeit medical products. This transformative technology ensures authenticity, fostering a safer supply chain. In the realm of telemedicine, blockchain's decentralized nature empowers patients with greater control over their medical data, facilitating improved communication with healthcare providers. This patient-centric approach strengthens interdisciplinary collaboration. Additionally, blockchain accelerates medical research by revolutionizing clinical trial data management, offering a secure and transparent platform. This not only streamlines processes but also reduces the risk of fraud, potentially cutting clinical trial costs by around 20%. Beyond institutional benefits, blockchain empowers individuals through decentralized healthcare apps, enabling active management of health records, appointments, and wellness tracking. This shift towards patient-centric applications enhances individual engagement in well-being management.

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Report Segmentation of the Blockchain Technology in Healthcare Market

Network Type Insight

In 2023, the global blockchain technology in healthcare market witnessed a remarkable landscape, notably led by the Public segment, securing a commanding 56.8% market share. This dominance can be attributed to the transparent and open nature of public blockchain networks, fostering seamless data sharing among diverse stakeholders in healthcare ecosystems. The Public segment, characterized by decentralized networks accessible to all, experienced swift expansion, proving particularly attractive to healthcare providers aiming to streamline processes and enhance patient care through efficient information exchange. Concurrently, Private blockchains played a crucial role in ensuring healthcare data protection and privacy, catering to organizations prioritizing compliance. These restricted-access solutions gained attention as part of robust privacy strategies. Additionally, the emerging alternatives in the Others category, such as consortium-based or hybrid networks, displayed promising potential in diversifying blockchain applications within healthcare, offering tailored value propositions aligned with industry needs.

Application Insight

In 2023, Supply Chain Management emerged as a dominant force, securing a remarkable 26.2% market share in the blockchain technology for healthcare sector. Its success is attributed to the pivotal role played by blockchain in enhancing transparency and efficiency within healthcare supply chains. Another significant player was Clinical Data Exchange & Interoperability, holding substantial market share by facilitating seamless sharing and integration of clinical data. Claims Adjudication & Billing experienced notable expansion due to its automation capabilities, offering reliable billing platforms for healthcare providers. Additionally, Clinical Trials & eConsent gained traction, showcasing blockchain's growing adoption for managing and safeguarding clinical trial data. Beyond these, blockchain is catalyzing healthcare innovation in areas such as patient data security and administrative efficiency, reflecting a multifaceted impact on the industry. The market's evolution is not only driven by efficiency gains but also by a collective commitment to ensuring integrity, security, and smooth exchange of vital healthcare information.

End-User Insight

In 2023, Biopharmaceutical and Medical Device Companies emerged as frontrunners in the healthcare blockchain sector, seizing a commanding 41.4% market share. Their dominance stems from adeptly employing blockchain solutions to enhance operational efficiency across the diverse realms of biopharmaceuticals and medical devices. Concurrently, healthcare providers secured a significant market share, experiencing notable growth due to improved data management, interoperability, and heightened security measures. Payers, including insurers and financial stakeholders, displayed fervent interest in blockchain applications, focusing on optimizing claims processing, fraud reduction, and ensuring transparent transactions. The broader spectrum of stakeholders, categorized as Others, including research institutions, regulatory bodies, and technology vendors, showcased a growing recognition of blockchain's versatile benefits, attaining a substantial market presence by 2023. This underscores blockchain's widespread applicability across various facets of the healthcare industry.

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Recent Developments in the Blockchain Technology in Healthcare Market

  • December 2023 : BurstIQ and Lytics Health merge, combining advanced AI healthcare analytics with blockchain-based data security.
  • November 2023 : Guardtime introduces Keyless Trust Anchor Service for tamper-proof evidence of data integrity in pharmaceutical supply chains.
  • October 2023 : iSolve acquires MedLedger, expanding its blockchain platform for clinical trial management and patient data privacy.
  • September 2023 : PATIENTORY Inc. and Health Gorilla partner for seamless integration between the patient engagement platform and interoperability network.

Market Segmentation

Network Type

  • Private
  • Public
  • Others

Application

  • Clinical Data Exchange & Interoperability
  • Claims Adjudication & Billing
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Clinical Trials & eConsent
  • Others

End-user

  • Providers
  • Payers
  • Biopharmaceutical & Medical Device Companies
  • Others

By Geography

  • North America
    • US
    • Canada
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • France
    • The UK
    • Spain
    • Italy
    • Russia
    • Netherland
    • Rest of Europe
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • Japan
    • South Korea
    • India
    • New Zealand
    • Singapore
    • Thailand
    • Vietnam
    • Rest of APAC
  • Latin America
    • Brazil
    • Mexico
    • Rest of Latin America
  • Middle East & Africa
    • South Africa
    • Saudi Arabia
    • UAE
    • Rest of MEA

Competitive Landscape

In the dynamic healthcare landscape, the adoption of blockchain technology is driven by influential players committed to addressing industry challenges. IBM, a tech giant, leverages its expertise to enhance data security, transparency, and interoperability, revolutionizing health information management. Patientory Inc. focuses on patient-centric applications, empowering individuals to manage and secure their health data, aligning with the industry's emphasis on patient engagement. Guardtime ensures tamper-proof data integrity in health records, crucial for maintaining trust. iSolve LLC streamlines healthcare processes, reducing costs and enhancing efficiency, benefiting providers and patients alike. Other contributors with diverse perspectives foster a competitive environment, driving innovation in blockchain applications for healthcare.

Market Key Players

  • IBM
  • PATIENTORY INC.
  • Guardtime
  • iSolve LLC
  • Solve
  • Oracle
  • Change Healthcare
  • BurstIQ
  • Medicalchain SA
  • Blockpharma

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Blockchain technology can help reduce medication shortages by providing secure product data.

Title:

Content:
Pharma races toward its future

Whether inside the four walls or between locations, the pharma supply chain is becoming increasingly complicated. The reasons range from new Federal regulations to increasing demand for delivering more drugs faster than ever before. This is a game changer.

Talk to the people in the know about trends in pharma these days, and it becomes clear pretty quickly that things are in flux. And we’re not talking a tweak here, a tweak there, either.

These shifts include:

  • The spiraling expiration of patents and the rise of generics,
  • The ascendancy of drugs that require precise cold chain control, and
  • Federal regulations requiring iron-clad track and trace of drugs at the unit level.

Each is a disruptor of the pharma supply chain in its own rite. Taken together, they challenge the industry mightily, and it’s not always possible to take on all challenges at the same time.

For instance, one expert says pharma supply chains are almost focused on creating track-and-trace systems that meet the federal regulations that go into full force in 2023 (see timeline, p. 55). While others say regulations are certainly dominant, but efficiencies of handling drugs and processing orders is not being overlooked by any means. Interestingly enough, those are not contradictory statements.

As it turns out, the two are intertwined. While one (regulations or efficiencies) may be dominant on a given day, the other is part of developing the right solution. It’s a complex web. Bar codes, software and blockchain all figure prominently.

So does automation. Beyond regulations, demands from customers at each stage of the pharma supply chain are continuing to increase, explains Michael Pietras, executive sales manager at SSI Schaefer.

“At all stages, the customer wants shorter shipping times even as distribution points increase along with SKU counts,” Pietras says. While he wouldn’t call the situation manic, Pietras will say that the demands are moving beyond what can be done in conventional manual order fulfillment environments. “The move is away from manual person-to-goods fulfillment to automated goods-to-person,” he adds.

There’s also the Amazon effect with the e-commerce giant’s purchase of PillPack, explains Dan Gilmore, chief marketing officer at Softeon. He explains that, in many cases, supply chain efficiencies have not traditionally been a top-level concern for pharma. However, that is likely to change. After all, PillPack’s tag line is: “Your medication delivered.”

At the same time, pharma growth is strong, says El Marie Hugo, JDA’s senior director of industry strategy. She says overall compound annual growth of the industry is estimated to be between 12% and 14%, “just as pharma is becoming a much more complicated supply chain.”

Sorting it out

Probably the best place to start is regulations. They have had a tortured path to this point and the going is not about to get any easier anytime soon.

It all started with California and Florida establishing their own state track-and-trace regulations almost a decade ago, explains Adam Kline, senior director of product management at Manhattan Associates. However, it became apparent early on that different regulations state-to-state would be debilitating for the industry.

Amid a barrage of lobbying, the federal regulation known as the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) was passed Nov. 27, 2013. As the timeline shows, key milestones include serialized product from manufacturers, repackagers, wholesale distributors and dispensers, all key points in the pharma supply chain. The end point is unit-level traceability, also known as the chain of custody, across the entire supply chain by Nov. 27, 2023.

That said, those federal deadlines are still in flux. In October, the FDA delayed this year’s Nov. 27 deadline requiring wholesale distributors to verify a product identifier. That was pushed out until exactly one year later, according to the Federal Register on Sept. 24, 2019. Obviously, making all this work is real challenge.

That was certainly evident speaking with DMLogic’s Matt Deep, vice president product development. He described all the points at which data about a drug shipment at the unit level could be compromised.

It starts with all the cases on a pallet load and goes all the way down to the individual container for each unit-level dose. Then, there’s the matter of breaking down the supply chain into what is received by the next node, how it’s tracked at that node and then when it is shipped to the next node. Don’t forget about drugs that are returned, accounting for a significant percentage of all volume. “There are just so many opportunities to compromise tracking and tracing of a drug before it gets to its final destination,” says Deep.

Fortunately, the case for making this work goes well beyond the regulations themselves. “This is all about patient safety,” explains Hugo of JDA.

Enter technology

At first, the answer appeared to be RFID. Tag everything, build a pallet load and read all tags at the same time with 100% accuracy. However, RFID was not up to the job.

Today, bar codes are the focus of data collection for the DSCSA. Traditional one-dimensional bar codes are giving way to two-dimensional bar codes. This shift bypasses the need to access a central database to know what is in a shipment with traditional bar codes. Instead, 2D bar codes are a traveling database in and of themselves, providing key data on the spot.

Kline of Manhattan says regulations require that half of all shipments from manufacturers use 2D bar codes by 2019. And by 2023, the regulations require full adoption of 2D codes across the entire pharma supply chain.

Meanwhile, high-speed automated scanners are on conveyor lines and in automated order fulfillment systems, manual data capture still dominates. Quite simply, so much of pharma order fulfillment is still manual person-to-goods operations, explains Mark Wheeler, director of supply chain solutions for Zebra.

The idea, he says, is to outfit people with wearable scanners that speed the scanning process and flow of goods. For instance, Zebra is replacing its standard two-finger ring scanner with a single-finger 2D ring scanner. Bluetooth capabilities speed the movement of data from the point of collection to a data management platform, says Wheeler. “Essentially, those scanners make it economical to capture extended item data at every step of the process,” he adds.

According to Pietras of SSI Schaefer, a shift is underway from pick-to-light, voice and RF systems to collect data in pharma order fulfillment. He says the alternative is automation such as automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) and A-frame item dispensers.

“More aggressive order windows are the trend, yet operations will have to ensure order integrity of the order,” he says. “The answer is often to automate order fulfillment as much as possible, including data capture. The target is 100% order verification right down to the unit-dose level,” says Pietras.

Tecsys, says product strategy manager Jean-Philippe Racette, is primarily focused on the pharmacy supply chain, especially for hospitals, which also must comply with the DSCSA. While track-and-trace capabilities at the unit-dose level benefit from bar codes, so do other activities.

Racette says these include the ability to better manage drug shortages (something that is making its own headlines recently) with demand visibility and distribution planning. It also makes centralized distribution more manageable, reducing unnecessary inventory as well as expired inventory. And centralized distribution is less common now than individual hospital pharmacies doing their own buying and inventory management.

“Hospitals just don’t have access to much of this data now. And while patient safety is paramount, track-and-trace of drugs will have a broader impact on the efficiencies and cost effectiveness of the pharma supply chain,” says Racette.

Building the network

Meanwhile, various points in the pharma supply chain, especially distributors, have “a reasonably strong interest in warehouse management systems (WMS),” says Gilmore of Softeon. He continues to say that many are still running on spreadsheets, but that is changing.

“They’re interested in WMS not for order picking but for traditional inventory management and replenishment capabilities,” continues Gilmore.

“WMS mitigates so many chain-of-custody issues within the four walls,” explains Kline of Manhattan. “The software not only collects and manages data but expedites data handling to improve the flow of inventory and orders,” he adds.

“At the same time,” says Gilmore, “distributed order management (DOM) is gaining interest. From hospitals to distributors and manufacturers, the pharma supply chain needs to be able to look across the entire network to determine where is the place to source today what they need today. They have the same sorts of basic order sourcing challenges that omni-channel retailers do,” Gilmore adds.

Hugo of JDA sees much the same trends, emphasizing the need for improved forward planning. “This is a huge shift for an industry that has not been nearly as focused on forward planning as it will be in the future,” she adds. Drivers here include the shift to new drugs, often called personalized medicine, that will proliferate SKUs at the same time as product life cycles shorten.

One of the more ambitious projects in the pharma supply chain is the MediLedger Project. “Using blockchain, MediLedger provides secure, trusted product data and verification at all nodes in the pharma supply chain,” explains Susanne Somerville. She is CEO of Chronicled, a technology company that writes software for blockchain and started the MediLedger Project.

She continues to say, “Blockchain enables the industry to operate safely in a shared network that will enable improved communication of transactions and business rule enforcement.”

Even though the FDA has pushed out the date for wholesale distributors to verify a product identifier last month, MediLedger went ahead with its plans to do that using blockchain now, says Somerville. She says it will:

  • keep an immutable record of transactions and data,
  • enforce cross-industry business rules without compromising individual company data,
  • protect each participant’s business intelligence, and
  • connect trading partners across the pharma supply chain.

All of that said, pharma is certainly a hot spot in the supply chain today. And, by all indications, that’s going to be case for the foreseeable future.

Companies mentioned in this article

Chronicled
DMLogic
JDA
Manhattan Associates
Softeon
SSI Schaefer
Tecsys
Zebra

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The EU Commission proposes shortening drug evaluations from 210 to 180 days to boost pharmaceutical supply chain resilience.

The European Commission proposed that EU states require pharmaceutical companies to hold safety stocks of medicine.

France reported 4,925 drug shortages in 2023, highlighting the need for policy changes.

The FDA has issued draft guidelines requiring manufacturers to report changes in manufacturing processes.

Title:

Content: FDA gave instructions to pharmaceutical manufacturers to prevent the risk of defects
The FDA has released a draft guideline that will allow pharmaceutical manufacturers to more accurately report disruptions to the production of drugs and APIs.
In particular, it specifies who should contact the regulator in case of a failure in production and on which products it is necessary to transmit information.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued draft guidelines to pharmaceutical manufacturers to prevent the risk of flaw.
According to the instructions, they will notify the agency of changes in the manufacturing process of drugs, biological products or active pharmaceutical ingredients (API).
In the United States, FD & C. It requires manufacturers to notify the agency of interruptions in the supply of products or APIs.
The FDA ’ s new guidelines provide clarifications.
Manufacturers must submit a notice to the FDA at least six months before stopping drug production, which could lead to their shortages on the market.
If it is not possible to notify the agency six months in advance, it should be done “as soon as possible ”.
If interruptions in production may affect the supply situation, the manufacturer should assess the situation only on the basis of its capabilities.
It should not take into account the capacity of other manufacturers, the amount of product on the market or market demand.
The guidelines also state what specific product or API information manufacturers should report when informing the FDA.
CBS, citing a report from the US Senate, writes that by the end of 2022, the shortage of drugs in the US had reached a five-year peak and affected almost 300 pharmaceutical products.
This is due to the fact that the United States moved production to China, India and other countries.
According to the American Society of Health System Pharmacists, products such as sodium chloride solution, the antibiotic amoxicillin and albuterol inhalation solution are now in short supply.
Nikolay Sokolov
pharmvestnik

The EU has proposed a solidarity mechanism, early warning system, and emergency measures to address drug scarcity.

The European Commission proposes revising EU pharmaceutical regulation to make medicines more affordable and combat antimicrobial resistance.

Title:

Content: The European Commission (EC) is proposing to revise the European Union (EU) pharmaceutical regulation to provide more affordable, affordable and innovative medicines, the EC office in Latvia said.
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The EC also proposes to implement the Council's recommendation on strengthening the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Medicines registered in the EU still do not reach patients quickly enough and are not equally available in all Member States.
The shortage is experienced in the treatment of rare diseases and antibiotics.
High prices for innovative treatments and drug shortages remain a major challenge for patients and health systems.
In addition, for the EU to remain an attractive investment destination and a global leader in drug development, it needs to adapt its rules to digital transformation and new technologies, removing bureaucratic obstacles and simplifying procedures, the statement said.
The review provides for the creation of a single market for medicines, ensuring that all patients in the EU will have timely and equal access to safe and effective medicines at an affordable and similar price.
In November 2020, the EC launched the European Medicines Strategy, with the aim of creating a future-oriented and patient-centered pharmaceutical environment in which the EU industry can innovate, thrive and continue to be a global leader.
Delfi in Telegram: Latest news from Latvia for those who have little time
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The National Health Commission and National Drug Administration have implemented measures to monitor and address drug shortages.

The White House has proposed $3.26 billion to $5.11 billion to address drug shortages, and the FDA needs more power to access relevant information.

The American Society of Health System Pharmacists advises the government on shortages and recommends manufacturer transparency on supply chain issues.

The Irish Health Minister has proposed legislation to enable pharmacists to prescribe certain medications and implement substitution protocols during shortages.

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Tuesday 3 October 2023 Dublin: 11°C
Leah Farrell/Rollingnews.ie Health Minister Stephen Donnelly
# Cabinet
Pharmacists to be allowed dispense some medicines, including the pill, without GP prescription
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly will bring the proposal before Cabinet this morning to help alleviate pressure on GPs.

HEALTH MINISTER STEPHEN Donnelly will this morning present Cabinet with draft legislation that would see pharmacists allowed to prescribe some medications, in a move that will help alleviate pressure on GPs.

Donnelly will today seek Cabinet approval to publish a general scheme and draft of the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.

The legislation comes as part of plans by the Minister to expand the role of pharmacists in Ireland and to make it easier for patients to access services.

The move has been supported by pharmacists for a long time, who have argued that they have the qualifications and expertise to play a more active role in dispensing medicine.

Under the new law, pharmacists will be able to supply the contraceptive pill without prescription as part of the continued roll-out of the free contraceptive scheme.

An expert taskforce has been established by Donnelly to support the expansion of pharmacy care which will look at “minor ailment schemes” and independent prescribing.

If enacted, on top of giving pharmacists the power to dispense some medicines without a GP prescription, including the contraceptive pill, the Bill aims to address the management of medicine shortages, which has become a major issue.

It would allow the Minister for Health to put in place medicines substitution protocols where a shortage of a medicinal product exists.

Recently, there have been reports of shortages of a large number of medicines in Ireland, including the weight loss drug Saxenda and the drug Ozempic which is often prescribed for patients with diabetes.

Earlier this month, it was reported that around 350 medicines were out of stock or in short supply in Ireland, according to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), up from 250 at the start of the year.

The proposed new legislation also would see the law amended to support vaccination programmes by allowing the administration of vaccines by a wider range of suitable qualified professionals.

It would also herald changes for potential medical card holders who wish to use the Rent-a-Room scheme in their homes, with a disregard for Rent-a-Room income of up to €14,000 a year from medical card assessment.

This comes as part of plans by the Government to remove any potential barriers to participation in the Rent-A-Room scheme.

Commission for older people

Elsewhere, it is understood that Donnelly and the Minister for Older People, Mary Butler will seek Cabinet approval this morning for an independent commission to examine health and social care services and supports for older persons.

It’s expected that the Commission will examine the services provided for older persons by the HSE, NGOs and other entities like home care and day service provider.

It will be asked to make recommendations to Government on the strategic development of health and social care services and supports for older persons.

It will also examine residential care settings and models of supported living.

The Commission is due to be established before the end of this year and is expected to complete its work in phases.

Planning and Development Bill

Also at Cabinet, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien will bring the updated Planning and Development Bill before ministers this morning also.

If passed, the Bill will introduce statutory timelines for planning applications (ranging from 18 weeks for appeals to 48 weeks for more complex issues) in what will be one of the biggest legislative overhauls in the history of the Oireachtas.

First published earlier this year, the Bill will introduce wide ranging reform of the planning system and intends to speed up the planning process and in turn help speed up the delivery of housing.

Some of these reforms include how judicial reviews are brought, with the Bill changing how residents associations can take cases against planning decisions, as well as introducing an extension on the time local development plans are in effect.

The Bill will also introduce a significant overhaul of An Bord Pleanála, which will be reorganised into An Coimisiún Pleanála.

The restructure comes in the wake of the controversy in the planning body last year, which resulted in Chairperson Dave Walsh opting to retire early in November.

This reorganisation will see the introduction of Planning Commissioners and a Governing Executive, as well as the separation of both decision-making and the corporate roles.

On the decision-making side, there will be 14 Planning Commissioners alongside a Chief Planning Commissioner. These roles will replace the existing chairperson and board member roles.

The Governing Executive will be responsible for the governance of An Coimisiún Pleanála, with a Chief Executive and seven non-executive members.

As a result of the Planning and Development Bill, the Government is understood to want to make judicial reviews of planning decisions a “waste of time”.

Judicial reviews are cases taken by citizens or groups to the High Court. In recent years, such cases have been used to challenge decisions made by An Bord Pleanála on large-scale property developments around the country.

Under the Planning and Development Bill, resident associations will be required to have a named individual or group of individuals commence a judicial review going forward, rather than bringing it forward as a broader residents’ association.

There will also be timelines set out for the entire judicial review process, from pleading cases to the delivery of a judgement.

However, some have been critical of the Bill with former Chief Justice, Frank Clarke claiming last week that it could lead to lengthy legal delays as cases are referred to European courts.

As reported by The Business Post, Clarke warned that if the Government proceeds with proposed reforms, it would be “counterproductive”.

He said: “If the theory is to make quick decisions to allow proper development go ahead, creating a system where there will be references to the Court of Justice of the European Union and the inevitable delay before there’s clarity about the law seems to be counterproductive to the purpose it is intended.”

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