The global medication shortage crisis has reached a record high, with 323 drug shortages reported in the first three months of 2024.

The crisis, which began in 2001, has been worsened by manufacturing, supply chain, and quality issues.

Lack of transparency in the pharmaceutical supply chain hinders responses to drug shortages.

The average shortage affects over half a million patients and often lasts over two years.

The FDA reports that manufacturing and quality problems are the main causes of drug shortages.

High demand, especially during public health emergencies, can contribute to drug shortages.

The European Union has announced pharmaceutical industry reforms, including mandatory safety stocks and reduced evaluation times.

France reported 4,925 drug shortages in 2023, affecting 44% of the population by 2024.

Around 78% of oncology health professionals have faced drug shortages, impacting cancer treatment.

Globally, 28 out of 35 countries are deficient in penicillin-type drugs, with the US and Canada facing an amoxicillin shortage.

Hospital pharmacists report a 99% rate of drug shortages, with 309 affected drugs.

The FDA is allowing temporary imports of chemotherapy drugs to address the shortage.

The EU proposes a voluntary mechanism to share vital medicines and address shortages.

The World Health Organization established the Epidemiological Supply Chain Network to anticipate and respond to global healthcare supply chain disruptions.

Regulatory agencies have proposed legislation to reduce reliance on Chinese pharmaceuticals and medical equipment by expanding supply chain transparency.

Improving pharmaceutical supply chain resilience requires sustainable practices, technology adoption, and strong leadership commitment.

Transparency and diversification are key to reliable supply chains and mitigating medication shortages.

Developing countries need alternative manufacturing capacity and global cooperation to strengthen supply chain resilience.

The global medication shortage crisis has reached a record high, with 323 drug shortages reported in the first three months of 2024.

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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

The crisis, which began in 2001, has been worsened by manufacturing, supply chain, and quality issues.

Lack of transparency in the pharmaceutical supply chain hinders responses to drug shortages.

The average shortage affects over half a million patients and often lasts over two years.

The FDA reports that manufacturing and quality problems are the main causes of drug shortages.

High demand, especially during public health emergencies, can contribute to drug shortages.

The European Union has announced pharmaceutical industry reforms, including mandatory safety stocks and reduced evaluation times.

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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France reported 4,925 drug shortages in 2023, affecting 44% of the population by 2024.

Around 78% of oncology health professionals have faced drug shortages, impacting cancer treatment.

Globally, 28 out of 35 countries are deficient in penicillin-type drugs, with the US and Canada facing an amoxicillin shortage.

Title:

Content: Experts have recorded a shortage of antibiotics in the world due to the increase in the number of infectious diseases.
On December 21, writes the Financial Times with reference to the head of the group of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the supply of medicines and ensuring access to them Lisa Hedman, reports Day.Az.
Twenty-eight of the 35 countries for which WHO collects data are deficient in penicillin-type drugs.
In the United States and Canada complained about the lack of amoxicillin.
Less is known about the situation in poor or small countries, according to Hedman.
It is noted that in addition to the difficulties experienced by pharmaceutical manufacturers in the pandemic, the current situation is complicated by high energy prices, and this leads to a decrease in profits of companies.
In addition, countries, according to Hedman, did not expect that in the first year without masks, respiratory infections would hit the population so hard.
In addition to antibiotics, pharmacists also complain about the lack of painkillers, drugs for tuberculosis and drugs for skin infections.

Hospital pharmacists report a 99% rate of drug shortages, with 309 affected drugs.

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

The FDA is allowing temporary imports of chemotherapy drugs to address the shortage.

The EU proposes a voluntary mechanism to share vital medicines and address shortages.

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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 World Health Organization established the Epidemiological Supply Chain Network to anticipate and respond to global healthcare supply chain disruptions.

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Content: 7 essentials to create a resilient global healthcare supply chain

  • SARS, Ebola and COVID-19 have tested the world’s ability to deal with outbreaks and pandemics.
  • A global pandemic preparedness system needs sustained political will and investment to ensure the global healthcare supply chain can effectively respond to a crisis.
  • If we don’t get serious about pandemic preparedness now, millions more lives will be at stake.

It was 20 years ago, when the SARS outbreak exposed key fragilities in the global healthcare supply chain, that people internationally began to talk seriously about pandemic preparedness.

Eight years ago, when the Ebola outbreak proved the world no better prepared to address outbreaks, there was more talk and some action. This included the founding of the Pandemic Supply Chain Network (PSCN), by the World Health Organization, World Economic Forum, World Bank, World Food Programme, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Henry Schein and more than 60 companies. The PSCN was established to make it easier to anticipate and respond to global healthcare supply chain disruptions.

Yet today, nearly three years into the COVID-19 pandemic – the worst global health crisis in a century – many of the same supply-chain fragilities remain. Although partnerships, such as the PSCN, and national efforts somewhat blunted the severity of supply chain disruptions during the pandemic, the effort to develop a global pandemic preparedness system has yet to garner the sustained political will and investment needed to ensure that the global healthcare supply chain can effectively respond to a crisis.

3. Improved stockpiles and inventory management

In addition to enhancing stockpiles of personal protective equipment (PPE) at the local, regional and national levels, we must manage inventory more intelligently – from cycling inventory to deal with product expiry to coordinating and harmonising responses across jurisdictions.

4. Platforms for data sharing and enhanced transparency

Through the globally-focused PSCN and various national efforts, including the US Supply Chain Control Tower, Henry Schein has been working across sectors to support the creation of market intelligence platforms that enable the appropriate sharing of real-time supply chain data. While progress has been made, encouraging responsible information sharing across public and private partners requires significant additional funding.

5. Fostering the free flow of goods

Over the past three years, government restrictions on exports played a significant role in exacerbating product distribution shortages. While the desire of governments to protect their populations in times of crisis is understandable, international cooperation to allow the free flow of key products lessens the risk of panic buying, hoarding and, ultimately, viral spread.

6. Coordinated early-warning system for outbreaks

Detecting the next outbreak early is essential to mitigating its impact, protecting global healthcare supply chains and saving lives. Strengthening our global surveillance capacity requires significant investment and better coordination across governments, international organizations and the private sector.

7. Strengthened health systems and better primary care

As Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, famously said: “Universal health coverage and health emergencies are cousins — two sides of the same coin.” Major and sustained investment is needed if we are to reap the benefits of expanded access to care.

Let’s conclude with another number: one. This is the number of viruses it could take to shut down our world again. If ever there was an issue to unite us – one for which we all share the same risk – pandemic preparedness is it. If we don’t get serious now, millions more lives are surely at stake.

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Regulatory agencies have proposed legislation to reduce reliance on Chinese pharmaceuticals and medical equipment by expanding supply chain transparency.

Title:

Content: (The Center Square) – A select committee on health-care reform in the state House has proposed recommendations and drafted legislation for the state legislature to consider that it argues will reduce medical and prescription drug costs and expand transparency.

The interim report presented to the legislature was compiled by a bipartisan committee after its members conducted two public hearings.

Committee members include state Reps. Sam Harless, chair; Toni Rose, vice chair; Greg Bonnen, M.D.; John H. Bucy III, Giovanni Capriglione, James B. Frank, R.D. "Bobby" Guerra, Stephanie Klick, John Lujan, Tom Oliverson, M.D., and Armando Walle.

The 102-page report includes key testimony from experts, and their findings related to five charges. The first charge related to studying “the implications of excessive health care costs on the efficacy of Texas Medicaid and the private health insurance market and the resulting impact on individual Texans, businesses, and state government.”

Committee members evaluated and provided recommendations about health care affordability, transparency, competition, and patient incentives. They also made recommendations to expand access to health care price information to allow patients to make informed decisions about their care.

They also examined the impact of government benefit, administrative, and contractual mandates imposed on private insurance companies, and impacts on employer and consumer premiums and out-of-pocket costs. They made recommendations for state and agency-level mandates and regulations that could be relaxed or repealed to increase the availability and affordability of private health coverage options in Texas and reviewed access to and affordability of prescription drugs.

The second charge related to monitoring the implementation of, and compliance with current price transparency requirements to determine how the state can better support patients and increase competition.

The third and fourth focused on expanding subsidized care to low-income and at-risk populations “to ensure Texans have access to affordable, quality, and comprehensive health care,” including identifying ways to improve outreach to eligible families to expand Medicaid or CHIP coverage.

The fifth examined the potential impact of delayed care on Texas’ health care delivery system, health care costs, and patient health outcomes, including evaluating patient delays in obtaining preventive and primary health services.

“The Select Committee was one of the most substantive of its kind that highlighted the root causes of many issues rather than surface level ones commonly addressed,” David Balat, director of the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Right on Healthcare initiative, said. “The Committee did an outstanding job of providing solutions that will result in tremendous change in an opaque industry to the benefit of all Texans.”

Balat, who also co-authored a report to lower prescription drug costs nationwide, has proposed a series of reforms for Congress to consider, including codifying a 2019 price-transparency rule for hospitals and insurers, increasing penalties for non-compliance, ending tax exempt status for non-profit hospitals that also receive taxpayer funded reimbursements, requiring the Federal Trade Commission to review mergers and acquisitions among insurers and hospital systems to ensure they don’t limit competition and patient choices, among other measures.

The report also provides insight into the real cost of insulin and America’s dependence on Chinese manufactured pharmaceuticals and medical equipment. “America must reclaim” the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, the report argues, moving away from its over reliance on China and other countries to provide critical drugs and medical supplies.

Improving pharmaceutical supply chain resilience requires sustainable practices, technology adoption, and strong leadership commitment.

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.

Advt
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.

continued below
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.

Advt
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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Transparency and diversification are key to reliable supply chains and mitigating medication shortages.

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Content: STOCK MARKET BSE NSE

At Biden-convened summit, PM Narendra Modi underlines trusted source, transparency, time-frame for improving supply chains

Asserting that It is necessary that our supply should be from trusted sources, PM Narendra Modi said this is also important for shared security.

Published: 01st November 2021 02:51 PM  |   Last Updated: 01st November 2021 02:51 PM   |  A+A-

By PTI

ROME: At a summit on strengthening global supply chains convened by US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the G20, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underlined that trusted source, transparency and time-frame were three critical aspects for improving the supply chains.

Speaking at the Summit on 'Global Supply Chain Resilience' on Sunday, Prime Minister Modi said that India has built a reputation as one of the trusted sources of pharmaceuticals, IT and other items, and was now also looking forward to playing a role in the clean technology supply chain.

"I suggest that we instruct our teams to meet at the earliest to draw up an action plan based on our shared democratic values, within a given time frame," he said.

While thanking Biden for convening the summit, Modi recalled that when the US president took office, he had said 'America is back' and "I would like to say, "Welcome back".

"In the initial months of the pandemic, we all felt the shortage of raw materials to make essential medicines, health equipment and vaccines. Now that the world is gearing up for economic recovery, the supply problems of semiconductors and other commodities are coming in the way of healthy growth," Modi said.

Who in the world had thought there would ever be a shortage of shipping containers, he asked.

Modi asserted that in order to improve the global supply of vaccines, India has increased the pace of export of Covid vaccines.

"We are also working with our Quad partners to supply better and cost-effective Covid-19 vaccines to the Indo-Pacific region," he said.

Modi reiterated that India is ready to produce 5 billion Covid vaccine doses for the world next year.

"For this also, it is very important that there should not be any hindrance in the supply of raw materials," he said.

Modi said three aspects are most important to improve global supply chains - trusted source, transparency and time-frame.

Asserting that It is necessary that our supply should be from trusted sources, Modi said this is also important for shared security.

Trusted sources should also be such that they do not have any reactive tendency so that the supply chain is protected from a tit-for-tat approach, he said.

For the reliability of the supply chain, it is also necessary that there should be transparency in it, he asserted.

"Due to lack of transparency, today we are seeing that many companies around the world are facing a shortage of small things. If critical things are not arranged on time, it can cause a big loss," Modi said.

"This we have realized in the case of pharma and medical supplies during the coronavirus period. So, in order to ensure supply within a time-frame, we have to diversify our supply chains. For this, alternative manufacturing capacity will have to be developed in developing countries," Modi said.

The United States, the European Union, Australia, Canada, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Germany, Indonesia, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Spain, and the United Kingdom met in Rome to discuss near-term supply chain disruptions and paths to long-term resilience.

Secure, sustainable, and resilient global supply chains are foundational to our economic prosperity, national security, and collective interests, the White House said in a Chair's Statement on Principles for Supply Chain Resilience.

Countries expressed intent for working together to strengthen the resilience of the supply chains - the global ecosystem of raw materials, intermediate goods, manufacturing, logistics, research and development that ensures that the businesses and consumers get the products they need, it said.

"Secure, sustainable, and resilient supply chains require that we work in partnership, not only as governments, but with industry, unions and workers, civil society, and international organisations alike," it said.

When the first wave of Covid-19 rolled around the globe, it caught most businesses off-guard as it disrupted supply chains on an unprecedented level.

Whether in responding to acute shocks of the kind we are experiencing in global trade today, or addressing the chronic long-term challenges in sectors critical to our security, more resilient global supply chains are fundamental to sustainable economic development for all," the statement added.

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Developing countries need alternative manufacturing capacity and global cooperation to strengthen supply chain resilience.


The global healthcare system is facing a growing concern of medication shortages, impacting both developing and developed countries, with a record high of 323 drug shortages reported in 2024, affecting over half a million patients.

Medication shortages have significant economic implications, costing facilities at least $359 million per year, and affecting over 50,000 pharmacies in North America.

The primary causes of drug shortages are manufacturing and quality problems, with the average shortage affecting at least half a million patients, and lasting over two years for more than half of the treatments.

The lack of transparency in the pharmaceutical industry hinders the response to drug shortages, making it challenging for healthcare systems to cope, and highlighting the need for pharmaceutical companies to be transparent about their supply chain issues.

In response to drug shortages, healthcare providers have switched patient medication regimens, and used alternative drugs in the same classification, while the FDA has allowed the import of chemotherapy drugs from overseas to mitigate shortages.

The FDA has also taken steps to address the issue, such as inspecting manufacturing facilities, and publishing drug supply information on its website, but lacks the power to access drug shortage information, and relies on manufacturer phone calls for supply updates.

The European Commission has announced measures to reform the pharmaceutical industry, including requirements for pharmaceutical companies to have safety stocks, and the EU has adopted a position on pharmaceutical reform, with reduced scientific evaluation of drugs.

The World Health Organization (WHO) plays a crucial role in addressing global medication shortages, by supporting countries in strengthening their health systems, and providing regulatory system support to ensure the quality and safety of medicines.

International cooperation is essential for addressing medication shortages, and the WHO has established the Pandemic Supply Chain Network to improve supply chain management, and reduce the risk of shortages.

The use of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT) can help healthcare systems to enhance supply chain transparency, predict potential shortages, and improve their overall response to medication shortages.

However, the economic burden of drug shortages on healthcare systems is significant, and drug shortages affect over half a million patients, many of whom are elderly, and can last for over two years, impacting patient outcomes and quality of life.

The long-term effects of medication shortages on patient outcomes in low-income countries or areas with limited access to healthcare are severe and far-reaching, leading to preventable health complications, and loss of lives.

Supply chain disruptions have a significant impact on the mental health of patients and healthcare workers, leading to increased anxiety, sadness, and distress, and highlighting the need for investment in security infrastructure, and cybersecurity training programs.

The World Health Organization recognizes the importance of stable drug supply in ensuring drug safety, and patient participation in healthcare decisions is crucial, but patients' views can be difficult to exert practical impact, and their autonomy may be limited in certain situations.

In conclusion, medication shortages are a complex issue, requiring a multi-faceted approach, involving international cooperation, transparency, and the use of technology to enhance supply chain management, and ensure the quality and safety of medicines.

The global healthcare system is facing a growing concern of medication shortages, impacting both developing and developed countries, with a record high of 323 drug shortages reported in 2024, affecting over half a million patients.

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.
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The primary causes of drug shortages are manufacturing and quality problems, with the average shortage affecting at least half a million patients, and lasting over two years for more than half of the treatments.

The lack of transparency in the pharmaceutical industry hinders the response to drug shortages, making it challenging for healthcare systems to cope, and highlighting the need for pharmaceutical companies to be transparent about their supply chain issues.

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. ”

In response to drug shortages, healthcare providers have switched patient medication regimens, and used alternative drugs in the same classification, while the FDA has allowed the import of chemotherapy drugs from overseas to mitigate shortages.

Title:

Content: NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – While this shortage of chemotherapy drugs stretches across the country, 22News looks at how the limited amounts of potentially life-saving drugs are impacting cancer care in our area.

It’s a problem, so acute it was recognized by the Biden Administration just last month. The White House noted there’s a shortage of 15 cancer drugs due to manufacturing and supply chain issues.

22News asked Pharmacy Director Michelle Kososki at Mass General Brigham Cooley Dickinson Hospital, to rate the shortage experienced locally on a scale, 5 being a critical shortage and 1 being no shortage at all, “right now I would probably say it is a four. We only have a very small supply of one particular drug.”

Pharmacy Director Michelle Kososki said drug shortages are not uncommon in the healthcare industry however, when faced with potentially life-saving drugs it can get complicated, “Anytime there is a shortage, there’s a risk of not being able to treat patients. Obviously, that is something we want to avoid and we work to the best of our ability with creative solutions to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Nurse Manager Lisa Martensson at Mass General Care Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital told 22News, “There’s always the ethical issues of who gets the drug that’s available. It’s supply and demand as you said and looking at what folks had for their disease which ones needed to be treated faster than others based on the aggressiveness of their disease. Those things played in but it was a really difficult decision to sit down and try and decide who would get the drug. We were never in a position where we had to deny anybody.”

Cancer patient Norman Uzdavinis of Whately said he was very concerned when he first heard of the shortage, “I had wondered where in the chemotherapy I would be at, would it have to be delayed for months or years if possible.”

Uzdavinis has not had his medical care compromised but feels for those who have, “I feel for them. I know what I’m going through and that everything is here so it’s perfect for me, but there’s a lot out there that are not as fortunate. I know that.”

“Healthcare providers here were able to mitigate the shortage by using a couple of different tactics. For example, they could switch up a patient’s medication regimen,” Nurse Manager Lisa Martensson said.

“What we did do was use drugs that were in the same classification but not necessarily that specific drug. There are also drug regimens where we could switch around the order to which we gave the drugs so if there was a drug that wasn’t available we are able to do one of the drugs that was available first and do that second drug second. That was able to work out so people didn’t do without and they were able to get what they needed,” Martensson continued.

According to the FDA, the shortage started when one of the major manufacturers of the chemo drug, Accord Healthcare, a company based in India, had to shut down after problems complying with good manufacturing practices were found during an inspection. Now, there is an increased demand from other companies that make these kinds of drugs.

22News contacted some other of the manufacturers of these drugs. Pfizer said they are increasing production by about 40 percent to meet this increased demand.

Local News

Alanna Flood is a reporter who has been a part of the 22News team since 2022. Follow Alanna on X @alannafloodnews and view her bio to see more of her work.

The FDA has also taken steps to address the issue, such as inspecting manufacturing facilities, and publishing drug supply information on its website, but lacks the power to access drug shortage information, and relies on manufacturer phone calls for supply updates.

The European Commission has announced measures to reform the pharmaceutical industry, including requirements for pharmaceutical companies to have safety stocks, and the EU has adopted a position on pharmaceutical reform, with reduced scientific evaluation of drugs.

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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The World Health Organization (WHO) plays a crucial role in addressing global medication shortages, by supporting countries in strengthening their health systems, and providing regulatory system support to ensure the quality and safety of medicines.

Title:

Content: The Third International Drug Conference on Royal Visions in Achieving Drug Security
About an hour ago.
Our homeland today: The activities of the Third International Drug Conference were launched today under the title: “Royal Visions in Achieving Drug Security ”.
Dr. Nizar Mahmoud Mehidat, Director General of SFDA, pointed out that the conference came in implementation of the royal directives that put the pharmaceutical sector at the forefront of its priorities as a leading and promising sector for the purposes of achieving medical security and improving the quality of health services provided to Jordanian citizens. There are more export markets in front of them.
He added that the directives of His Majesty the King through his vision of economic modernization are based on two main strategies: Accelerated growth by unleashing the full economic potential of Jordan to create jobs, new investments and raise the standard of living.
Second: Improving the quality of life for all citizens, whose main pillars are the pharmaceutical industries in Jordan and its partnership with them.
He pointed out that the presence of more than one pharmaceutical line of generic drugs with distinctive brands and a wide range of pharmaceutical products with high international standards has made Jordan one of the developed countries in this industry at the regional and international level.
He stressed that supporting the national pharmaceutical industries requires all official bodies, public and private sectors to adopt priorities and strategies that would make Jordan a regional center for the production of pharmaceuticals by strengthening the orientation towards new pharmaceutical technologies, enhancing research and development and links between pharmaceutical companies and making Jordan a real supporter to achieve pharmaceutical security for him and the countries of the region.
For her part, the WHO representative in Jordan, Dr. Jameela Al Raabi, said that the conference coincides with the WHO ’ s 75th anniversary celebrations, where the organization worked hard to support countries in strengthening their health, regulatory and regulatory systems, and contributed to the development of pharmaceutical industries.
Al-Raabi added that the organization adopted the resolutions of the World Health Assembly and provided support to most countries, including Jordan, to strengthen regulatory and supervisory systems through capacity building in member countries in line with good regulatory practices, regulatory cooperation, joint work and reliance on others to save time, effort and cost.
Al-Raabi reviewed a range of WHO programs and areas of joint work with the pharmaceutical sector in both the public and private sectors, which serve to achieve the royal visions in pharmaceutical security and pharmaceutical industries, including the program of strengthening and strengthening regulatory systems through the evaluation of pharmaceutical, regulatory and legislative systems, the program of evaluation of medical products and pharmaceutical control laboratories.
For her part, Assistant Director General of SFDA for Technical Affairs Dr. Wesal Al-Huqaysh, Vice President of the Conference, stressed that the conference is held in line with the royal visions and aspirations of His Majesty King Abdullah II to economic modernization as a solid road map for the coming years.
She pointed out that the inclusion of the pharmaceutical sector in this vision reflects the importance of the sector as a tributary and a key driver of the national economy and the importance of focusing on achieving pharmaceutical security by encouraging and supporting local pharmaceutical industries and making them competitive and developing and increasing their exports to new marketing channels.
The opening of the conference, which coincides with the celebrations taking place in the Kingdom on the occasion of the wedding of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II and the 77th anniversary of the independence of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, was attended by a group of their Excellencies and Compassion. More than 400 participants from local and foreign pharmaceutical warehouses and companies, health and academic institutions, the World Health Organization and international organizations.

International cooperation is essential for addressing medication shortages, and the WHO has established the Pandemic Supply Chain Network to improve supply chain management, and reduce the risk of shortages.

Title:

Content: 7 essentials to create a resilient global healthcare supply chain

  • SARS, Ebola and COVID-19 have tested the world’s ability to deal with outbreaks and pandemics.
  • A global pandemic preparedness system needs sustained political will and investment to ensure the global healthcare supply chain can effectively respond to a crisis.
  • If we don’t get serious about pandemic preparedness now, millions more lives will be at stake.

It was 20 years ago, when the SARS outbreak exposed key fragilities in the global healthcare supply chain, that people internationally began to talk seriously about pandemic preparedness.

Eight years ago, when the Ebola outbreak proved the world no better prepared to address outbreaks, there was more talk and some action. This included the founding of the Pandemic Supply Chain Network (PSCN), by the World Health Organization, World Economic Forum, World Bank, World Food Programme, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Henry Schein and more than 60 companies. The PSCN was established to make it easier to anticipate and respond to global healthcare supply chain disruptions.

Yet today, nearly three years into the COVID-19 pandemic – the worst global health crisis in a century – many of the same supply-chain fragilities remain. Although partnerships, such as the PSCN, and national efforts somewhat blunted the severity of supply chain disruptions during the pandemic, the effort to develop a global pandemic preparedness system has yet to garner the sustained political will and investment needed to ensure that the global healthcare supply chain can effectively respond to a crisis.

3. Improved stockpiles and inventory management

In addition to enhancing stockpiles of personal protective equipment (PPE) at the local, regional and national levels, we must manage inventory more intelligently – from cycling inventory to deal with product expiry to coordinating and harmonising responses across jurisdictions.

4. Platforms for data sharing and enhanced transparency

Through the globally-focused PSCN and various national efforts, including the US Supply Chain Control Tower, Henry Schein has been working across sectors to support the creation of market intelligence platforms that enable the appropriate sharing of real-time supply chain data. While progress has been made, encouraging responsible information sharing across public and private partners requires significant additional funding.

5. Fostering the free flow of goods

Over the past three years, government restrictions on exports played a significant role in exacerbating product distribution shortages. While the desire of governments to protect their populations in times of crisis is understandable, international cooperation to allow the free flow of key products lessens the risk of panic buying, hoarding and, ultimately, viral spread.

6. Coordinated early-warning system for outbreaks

Detecting the next outbreak early is essential to mitigating its impact, protecting global healthcare supply chains and saving lives. Strengthening our global surveillance capacity requires significant investment and better coordination across governments, international organizations and the private sector.

7. Strengthened health systems and better primary care

As Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, famously said: “Universal health coverage and health emergencies are cousins — two sides of the same coin.” Major and sustained investment is needed if we are to reap the benefits of expanded access to care.

Let’s conclude with another number: one. This is the number of viruses it could take to shut down our world again. If ever there was an issue to unite us – one for which we all share the same risk – pandemic preparedness is it. If we don’t get serious now, millions more lives are surely at stake.

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The use of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT) can help healthcare systems to enhance supply chain transparency, predict potential shortages, and improve their overall response to medication shortages.

Title:

Content: Investing in the Green Future

Here’s how sustainable supply chain transformation can set organizations up for long-term success.

Maryem Sahnoun, Senior Manager and Lead CQR Engineer, Capgemini

June 26, 2024

6 Min Read
lumerb Via Alamy Stock

Across industries, enterprises are charting a path toward the future. But unlike the business strategies of previous generations, modern enterprises have an even more important future to consider -- the survival and prosperity of our planet.

More than ever, sustainability is recognized as a critical societal and enterprise priority, one that is on the topic of nearly every boardroom agenda. From the largest Fortune 500 companies to innovative startups, leaders are faced with the knowledge that without a sustainability strategy in place, they will ultimately fall behind the competition.

One area in which businesses have started to devote their attention is the supply chain. By preparing to mitigate a product’s lifetime environmental impact -- from raw materials and manufacturing footprint to in-use emissions and end-of-life disposal -- leaders are set to transform the way products, services, and processes come to market.

Incentive Toward Change

The push for more sustainable supply chains cannot be attributed to a single factor. It is a global phenomenon brought on by a perfect storm of shifting business and personal priorities. In tandem, businesses, governments, and consumers have all found sustainability at the center of their newly developing lifestyles.

Related:Science-Based Targets Are a Formula for Success

For the last several years, consumers have begun to prioritize ethically sourced and environmentally friendly products. Research shows that when Gen Z and Millennial customers believe a brand cares about its impact on people and the planet, they are 27% more likely to make a purchase from that brand than older generations are. This indicates the clear impact that sustainability has on the purchasing behavior of younger generations. What’s further, 63% of consumers want brands to play an active role in their education around sustainable products and 55% believe that the greater a brand’s sustainability effort, the more positive the consumer perception of that brand.

Due to this mindset shift, companies and governments have begun to improve the sustainability of their operations and supply chains. From an enterprise perspective, the growing societal awareness of the environment is not the only driver of green initiatives. Many of these brands have begun to realize the cost savings associated with sustainability. In the long term, sustainable companies boast increased savings related to energy efficiency, reduced waste, and transportation. What’s further, brands with a strong sustainability strategy mitigate risks associated with supply chain disruption and compliance issues.

Related:AI Driving Data Center Energy Appetite

Beyond cost, companies that embrace sustainability often experience enhanced consumer trust, in turn improving their reputation in the marketplace.

Governments are also tapping into these discussions. National and global standards and regulations are outlining structures for compliance. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, energy, water, and waste at its facilities and has set out several federal sustainability guidelines for companies.

With businesses, governments, and consumers all tracking toward the same goal, it is clear that the push for sustainability is here for the long haul.

Roadblocks to Implementing a Sustainable Supply Chain

While the motivation for sustainable transformation is clear and present, there are challenges that remain -- specifically in the short term.

Scope 3 emissions, which represent all the upstream and downstream emissions of a single organization, present a major challenge. Unlike Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, which are directly controllable, the conversation around Scope 3 is much more complex. There is a very large range of Scope 3 sources, such as supply chain emissions, business travel, end-of-life disposal, and beyond. There is an increased level of difficulty when attempting to accurately track the emissions of an enterprise, as well as any subsidiaries, suppliers, and logistic partners.

Related:10 Ways IT Leaders Can Encourage Employees to Be Greener

For example, automotive manufacturers can have thousands of suppliers and several logistic partners; ensuring alignment between all stakeholders requires extensive transparency across the supply chain. Additionally, robust tracking and reporting mechanisms must be in place to get an accurate read.

Data collection is also a roadblock to building sustainable supply chains. It requires collaboration across all of a company’s stakeholders, which can often be difficult to control. For example, an organization cannot control a customer’s use of their product once it has been purchased, but that customer usage is still included in that brand’s Scope 3 emissions. The challenge increases even further due to the lack of a standardized methodology for collecting emissions data.

Finally, many businesses looking to build more sustainable supply chains experience cost and regulations challenges. The cost of initial investment in green initiatives can be large, and many leaders must decide between short-term savings and long-term benefits. Similarly, regulations are ever evolving, and leaders must constantly assess their strategies and goals to ensure that they maintain compliance.

Best Practices for Leaders

Spearheading transformation in any capacity will require strong leadership to ensure success. Where sustainability is concerned, businesses are embarking on outgrowing a decades-old mindset where our planet was billed as an afterthought.

In order to execute environmental goals and commitments, leaders should focus on several best practices. Firstly, establishing a clear strategy and goals for how to track and reduce supply chain emissions -- specifically Scope 3 -- is critical.

Additionally, leaders should weave sustainability into the fabric of their organization from the top down by promoting company-wide environmentally friendly practices. These include recycling, reusing, and relying on the circular economy, and supporting local sourcing where possible.

Perhaps the most important practice for leaders is to leverage innovative technologies to help track and monitor CO2 and other emissions. These capabilities will provide organizations with more seamless and efficient ways to monitor and optimize their operations. Some of these technologies include:

  • Artificial intelligence (AI): Optimize logistics and transport, predict sustainable outcomes as early on as the design phase, and forecast demand and inventory needs.

  • Internet of Things (IoT): Monitor aspects of operations such as energy usage, temperature, shipping conditions, and more. IoT also provides real-time data and allows robust tracking capabilities.

  • Augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR): Enable remote maintenance, validation, and packaging inspections, as well as reduce travel-related emissions.

  • Blockchain: Ensure traceability and transparency, as well as ethical sourcing.

By instilling these best practices, leaders can face sustainability challenges head-on and set their organizations up for success.

Lifecycle Assessment Methodology

What if it was possible to predict the sustainability impact of design changes at the push of a button? To allow engineers to make ‘virtual’ changes to design, materials, or supply chains, and immediately understand how combinations of decisions change the overall lifecycle environmental impact? Enter the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology.

LCA is a standardized methodology that helps design engineers evaluate the environmental impact of a product, process, or service. This method tracks impact across the entire lifecycle, from the extraction of raw materials to end-of-life disposal. It does so by providing 18 environmental KPIs linked to supply chain -- including carbon footprint -- to identify hotspots where carbon emissions are highest.

For example, consider the extraction of raw materials. LCA can help select more sustainable raw materials and guide brands toward renewables. In manufacturing, LCA can highlight inefficiencies and provide clear assessments, which identify problem areas and offer solutions. In design, this approach can inform product design decisions, encouraging products with longer lifespans or easier recyclability.

Cultivating a sustainable supply chain will not happen overnight, but organizations can learn many valuable lessons throughout their journey.

By focusing on best practices, and prioritizing long-term transformation, organizations can foster a greener future and fortify the trust and respect of their customers.

About the Author(s)

Senior Manager and Lead CQR Engineer, Capgemini

Maryem Sahnoun is Senior Manager and Lead CQR Engineer at Capgemini. She has widespread experience in sustainable supply chain and packaging across industries. With a strong commitment to sustainability, Maryem has dedicated her career to driving positive change in environmental practices and fostering innovation in sustainable solutions.

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However, the economic burden of drug shortages on healthcare systems is significant, and drug shortages affect over half a million patients, many of whom are elderly, and can last for over two years, impacting patient outcomes and quality of life.

The long-term effects of medication shortages on patient outcomes in low-income countries or areas with limited access to healthcare are severe and far-reaching, leading to preventable health complications, and loss of lives.

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Content:
Wednesday September 13, 2023

Inadequate healthcare

September 13, 2023

The lack of access to quality healthcare services in our country is a pressing concern that requires immediate action from the relevant authorities. The inadequate state of health facilities has serious consequences for individuals and families across the country. It results in compromised medical care, longer waiting times, and insufficient access to essential treatments and medications. This not only impacts the physical health of the population but also adds to the financial burden on families already struggling with economic challenges.

To address this issue, it is imperative that the government prioritize healthcare infrastructure and funding. Investment in the construction and maintenance of hospitals and clinics, as well as the training and recruitment of medical professionals, is crucial to ensuring that citizens have timely and appropriate medical care. Furthermore, efforts should be directed towards increasing the availability of essential medical supplies and medications. The scarcity of these resources can lead to preventable health complications and even loss of lives. Strengthening supply chains and ensuring the consistent availability of medicines can go a long way in improving the quality of healthcare services.

Abdul Qadeer

Karachi

Supply chain disruptions have a significant impact on the mental health of patients and healthcare workers, leading to increased anxiety, sadness, and distress, and highlighting the need for investment in security infrastructure, and cybersecurity training programs.

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Content: Opinion: Priscilla Dann-Courtney: Handling the emotional fallout due to the shortage on our shelves

As my husband and I bundled up for our tree buying experience I mentioned, “You know there is a tree shortage this year.” But we remained hopeful we’d find the right tree, which admittedly has gotten smaller over the years, coinciding with how long it has been since our children were waking us up at 6 a.m. to see what Santa delivered. The lights still have a peaceful glow, yet this year they also shed light on the chaos in our global economy due to the pandemic, which is creating unrelenting issues for manufacturers and the shipping industry. Labor shortages exacerbated by immigration constraints create widespread disruption. The supply chain has major kinks drastically reducing inventory. There is a reduced availability of trees, turkeys, automobile computer chips, chocolate chips, medical devises, construction materials, newsprint, grape nuts cereal, and the list goes on affecting all areas of our lives.

The rise in issues related to mental health brought on by the pandemic has been widely documented as the world struggles with increased anxiety, sadness, anger and hopelessness all complicated by increased physical symptoms and a shortage of psychological and medical services. As with the Depression in the 1930s, where depression among individuals coincided, so too are we dealing with the emotional challenges of widespread shortage as we grapple with “not enough” when it comes to commodity and services.

What is worthy of focus is not only our reactions to not having the material goods at our fingertips, but actually the emotional associations we have tied to these commodities that can create internal turmoil.

For example, construction materials create our infrastructure — our homes, our community, our transportation. These all serve to provide both concrete and emotional stability grounding us and connecting us to one another. No matter our cultural differences and leanings toward trees and turkeys, for many they provide the beauty and comfort of tradition. Automobiles and bicycles allow for freedom of movement. Medical devices are crucial for physical health. Chocolate chips and Grape Nuts provide the comfort of the familiar. Newsprint for many educates us about our ever-changing world near and far. When we experience scarcity in these areas, the earth shakes, our foundation becomes less certain. Our anxiety increases as we are confronted by a powerlessness and unpredictability. It is easy to repeat the words, “the only constant is change,” however the adage often provides little comfort.

The question becomes how to manage and cope with the emotional fallout due to the shortage on shelves for the foreseeable future. It is important to recognize there is a difference between shortage and absence. Shortage is a luxury versus absence which can be life-threatening. Poverty of food and shelter is one of survival. Shortage on the other hand raises concern for our mental health, which at its extreme can be life-threatening. But more frequently it remains a challenge to our emotional well-being.

Often we are encouraged to look for that which we are grateful for in the face of adversity. But recently during a session with a young woman experiencing a difficult loss and break-up, I promised I would not ask her to make a gratitude list. Her response was loud and clear, “Thank God!” At times gratitude referencing people and aspects of our lives may be very helpful. But often our list needs to take on a different focus. It becomes appreciation and gratitude for being in touch with the truth of what is. Honest expression and acceptance of our grief with self-compassion in the face of scarcity is not always easy. Yet that form of presence and access to our truth is something to be grateful for. It is that alignment versus avoidance, which creates a path of healing through self-expression. And with that there is the hope of hearing the song of peace and joy this time of year. Playing the song of grief allows us to also hear that melody of joy. Our resilience and healing individually and collectively depends on our willingness to accept our vulnerabilities and that of others with compassion. Humanity is independent of the supply chain. And our humanity remains abundant.

Priscilla Dann-Courtney may be reached through her website: priscilladanncourtney.com

The World Health Organization recognizes the importance of stable drug supply in ensuring drug safety, and patient participation in healthcare decisions is crucial, but patients' views can be difficult to exert practical impact, and their autonomy may be limited in certain situations.

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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
Please like this article and share it with your friends! More health information: https: / / www.healthnews.com.tw
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In conclusion, medication shortages are a complex issue, requiring a multi-faceted approach, involving international cooperation, transparency, and the use of technology to enhance supply chain management, and ensure the quality and safety of medicines.