A record 323 drug shortages in 2024 are affecting over 500,000 patients.

Manufacturing and quality issues are the main causes of most drug shortages.

Demand for certain medications, like weight-loss drugs, has caused recent shortages.

The FDA blames supply chain gaps and downtime for the shortages.

Lack of transparency hinders the response to drug shortages.

The US is experiencing prolonged drug shortages with no end in sight.

The WHO warned of a potential worldwide injection shortage of up to 2 billion units by 2022, mainly due to COVID-19 vaccination campaigns.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to 7.25 billion coronavirus vaccine doses being administered globally.

A shortage of injections threatens vaccination efforts, especially in low-income countries.

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

France's drug shortages rose from 2,160 in 2021 to 3,761 in 2022.

Estonia had 450 drugs in shortage in 2023, exceeding the previous year's total.

Estonian hospitals faced severe medicine shortages in 2023 due to supply and raw material issues.

Saudi Arabia had 107,246 medicine shortage reports in Q1 2021, averaging 50 per hour.

The US had 323 active drug shortages in 2021, a new record surpassing 2014's 320.

Chemotherapy drugs are among the most affected, with 32 currently in shortage.

The EU proposed a solidarity mechanism to avoid medication shortages among member states.

The EU suffered antibiotic and painkiller shortages in 2021, with three-quarters of countries reporting worsening drug shortages in 2022.

India's pharma exports grew 10.45% in May 2023, with the US accounting for 30% of the total.

The US is experiencing decade-high drug shortages in 2024.

The US medicine shortage rose 30% in 2022, with an average duration of 18 months.

Some US drug shortages have lasted 15 years, highlighting the need for long-term solutions.

Economic factors and opaque supply chains contribute to US medicine shortages.

Natural disasters threaten global medicine production, emphasizing the need for diversified supply chains.

A global syringe shortage is predicted for 2022-2023, impacting vaccination efforts due to COVID-19 vaccine demand.

Global manufacturing capacity for injections is six billion per year, potentially falling short of demand.

A billion-injection shortage is possible, posing severe public health consequences.

A primary caretaker can create a list of patient medications, diseases, and allergies to prepare for potential shortages.

The list should include all medications, supplements, and dosages, and be updated as needed.

Caregivers should monitor medication levels to avoid running out of essential medications.

Caregivers can refill prescriptions early to mitigate shortage effects, which often involve 16.6 percent price increases.

Alternative medications can be at least three times more expensive, making affordable options essential.

The FDA ensures the safety and quality of pharmaceutical products.

Generic drugs have the same ingredients and processes as original drugs and can be used as alternatives during shortages.

Patients can switch to alternative strengths or brands with healthcare consultation.

Caregivers and healthcare professionals can consult pharmacists about alternative products.

The Ministry of Health oversees medicine substitution controls with input from clinical experts and hospital pharmacists.

A central pharmacy can supply registered medicines to all hospital institutions at the lowest cost.

Caregivers must know patient medications to ensure safety and monitor efficacy and side effects.

Caregivers and reminder strategies can help patients take medication correctly in emergencies.

The Drug Authority provides alternatives and a medicine availability hotline at 16682.

The government provides health insurance, which helps mitigate medication shortages with alternative medicines.

EU reforms aim to increase transparency and address shortages in the pharmaceutical industry, which can lead to rising drug prices.

The European Commission's proposal to shorten drug evaluation from 210 to 180 days was rejected by Prescrire.

Caregivers should be aware of the potential risks of medication shortages, including treatment delays and ethical allocation issues.

Switching medication regimens can help mitigate shortages and ensure continuity of care.

The FDA can shut down non-compliant drug manufacturers, who can otherwise increase production to meet demand.

Industry consolidations and manufacturing difficulties can lead to medicine shortages, requiring a multi-stakeholder response to ensure patient safety.

Raw material shortages can cause medicine shortages, so healthcare systems need coping strategies.

Caregivers help patients navigate medication shortages and remind them to take medications as directed.

Caregivers can monitor patients for food interactions, medication efficacy, and side effects.

Caregivers can use tools like the national drug shortage list to find alternative medications.

Websites like GoodRX and RX Saver can help find cheap medications and manage shortage costs.

Patient Support Programs and digital monitoring systems can help with medication costs and track financial toxicity.

The Drug Deficiency Database tracks drug shortages and provides valuable information for caregivers.

Family-friendly policies can support caregivers during medication shortages.

In countries like Taiwan, the Drug Cost Allocation Target System and health insurance cover around 25% of medication costs.

Experts discuss the need to reform the Drug Cost Allocation Target System to better support caregivers and patients.

The FDA allows import of certain overseas drugs to alleviate shortages, including chemotherapy.

Hospital pharmacists report widespread drug shortages, including chemotherapy, with 99% experiencing some supply shortages.

Healthcare systems and pharmacists can provide guidance on temporary therapeutic alternatives during shortages.

Aifa publishes tables on drug interactions, a useful resource for caregivers.

In Ireland, a paracetamol shortage occurred due to Covid-19 and flu, with alternative brands available.

In France, 44% of people faced a drug shortage in 2024, prompting calls for transparency among health professionals.

The European Union has implemented measures to reform the pharmaceutical industry and alleviate shortages.

Jordan's Ministry of Health faces medication shortages, with a 2023 medicine budget of 103.75 million dinars.

The Ministry's 300 million dinar debt to pharmaceutical companies affects their liquidity and complicates supply.

Accurate budget preparation and fiscal reforms can help overcome medication shortages and alleviate pressure on healthcare workers.

Medication shortages outside hospitals threaten patient safety and increase costs.

Medication shortages require a multifaceted approach, including tracking tools, alternative medications, and financial management.

Caregivers can evaluate alternative medications during a shortage by consulting experts and checking their quality.

Caregivers can evaluate alternative medications through compounding pharmacies where pharmacists mix pure ingredients.

The FDA ensures pharmaceutical safety through post-market management, helping caregivers evaluate alternative medications.

Caregivers can consult healthcare professionals for advice on alternative medications.

Alternative medications can be as effective as the original, but caregivers should consult healthcare professionals to ensure quality and safety.

The Western Medicine Information Platform provides drug information for evaluating alternative medications.

Caregivers should consult healthcare professionals or use approved alternative medications instead of makeshift home remedies.

The FDA works with manufacturers to consolidate inventory data.

A record 323 drug shortages in 2024 are affecting over 500,000 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.
Related Topics

Manufacturing and quality issues are the main causes of most drug shortages.

Demand for certain medications, like weight-loss drugs, has caused recent shortages.

The FDA blames supply chain gaps and downtime for the shortages.

Lack of transparency hinders the response to drug shortages.

The US is experiencing prolonged drug shortages with no end in sight.

The WHO warned of a potential worldwide injection shortage of up to 2 billion units by 2022, mainly due to COVID-19 vaccination campaigns.

Title:

Content: 19: 53 GMT09 November 2021
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The world.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Tuesday of the risk of a worldwide injection shortage of up to 2 billion units by next year, threatening to disrupt vaccination efforts.
The shortfall is mainly due to COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, where billions of injections are used more than usual around the world, which has negatively affected the world ’ s supply of this essential tool.
The World Health Organization ’ s senior adviser on securing access to medicines and health products, Lisa Hedman, said that as the supply of doses of the coronavirus vaccine increases, the supply of injections must be kept up.
"We are raising real concern that there may be a shortage of immunization syringes, which in turn will lead to serious problems, such as slowing down vaccination efforts."
And she went on to say:
"Depending on how the vaccine is absorbed, the deficit could range from 1 billion to 2 billion injections."
More than 7.25 billion doses of the coronavirus vaccine have been given to the global population, nearly double the number of routine vaccinations given annually and double the number of injections required, according to an AFP tally.
See also:
World Health Organization: The pace of coronavirus transmission in Europe is very worrying
WHO approves emergency use of India ’ s Covaxine anti-coronavirus vaccine
WHO resolves controversy over combined coronavirus and flu vaccines
Keywords:
Coronavirus, WHO

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to 7.25 billion coronavirus vaccine doses being administered globally.

Title:

Content: 19: 53 GMT09 November 2021
LIVE
The world.
Copy the link
0 01
Follow us via
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Tuesday of the risk of a worldwide injection shortage of up to 2 billion units by next year, threatening to disrupt vaccination efforts.
The shortfall is mainly due to COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, where billions of injections are used more than usual around the world, which has negatively affected the world ’ s supply of this essential tool.
The World Health Organization ’ s senior adviser on securing access to medicines and health products, Lisa Hedman, said that as the supply of doses of the coronavirus vaccine increases, the supply of injections must be kept up.
"We are raising real concern that there may be a shortage of immunization syringes, which in turn will lead to serious problems, such as slowing down vaccination efforts."
And she went on to say:
"Depending on how the vaccine is absorbed, the deficit could range from 1 billion to 2 billion injections."
More than 7.25 billion doses of the coronavirus vaccine have been given to the global population, nearly double the number of routine vaccinations given annually and double the number of injections required, according to an AFP tally.
See also:
World Health Organization: The pace of coronavirus transmission in Europe is very worrying
WHO approves emergency use of India ’ s Covaxine anti-coronavirus vaccine
WHO resolves controversy over combined coronavirus and flu vaccines
Keywords:
Coronavirus, WHO

A shortage of injections threatens vaccination efforts, especially in low-income countries.

Title:

Content: 19: 53 GMT09 November 2021
LIVE
The world.
Copy the link
0 01
Follow us via
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Tuesday of the risk of a worldwide injection shortage of up to 2 billion units by next year, threatening to disrupt vaccination efforts.
The shortfall is mainly due to COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, where billions of injections are used more than usual around the world, which has negatively affected the world ’ s supply of this essential tool.
The World Health Organization ’ s senior adviser on securing access to medicines and health products, Lisa Hedman, said that as the supply of doses of the coronavirus vaccine increases, the supply of injections must be kept up.
"We are raising real concern that there may be a shortage of immunization syringes, which in turn will lead to serious problems, such as slowing down vaccination efforts."
And she went on to say:
"Depending on how the vaccine is absorbed, the deficit could range from 1 billion to 2 billion injections."
More than 7.25 billion doses of the coronavirus vaccine have been given to the global population, nearly double the number of routine vaccinations given annually and double the number of injections required, according to an AFP tally.
See also:
World Health Organization: The pace of coronavirus transmission in Europe is very worrying
WHO approves emergency use of India ’ s Covaxine anti-coronavirus vaccine
WHO resolves controversy over combined coronavirus and flu vaccines
Keywords:
Coronavirus, WHO

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

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's drug shortages rose from 2,160 in 2021 to 3,761 in 2022.

Estonia had 450 drugs in shortage in 2023, exceeding the previous year's total.

Title:

Content: Drug supply problems have worsened in Estonia
This year, pharmacies in Estonia faced a much larger shortage of drugs than a year earlier.
Problems with supplies are caused by both increased demand and shortage of raw materials, reports rus.err with reference to "Actual chamber".
This spring, parents faced a shortage of antibiotics and antipyretic drugs suitable for children, and in the fall, the Sorbister drug for renal patients had to be issued from the state reserve stock, since it was not enough due to supply problems in pharmacies.
Hospitals are also facing a severe shortage of medicines this year.
“For example, hospitals use very important drugs to treat the consequences of heart attacks and strokes, the supply problems of which have been observed for a year, but thanks to good cooperation, we were able to ensure that no one was left without treatment, ” said Marco Tiisler, head of the Import and Export Supervision Department of the Drug Department.
In 2021, there was a shortage of 183 drugs in pharmacies, last year - 359, as of the end of this year - 450 drugs, and in the case of 130 drugs, the cause of the deficiency is unknown.
The second significant reason was a sudden surge in demand, for example, for the drug Ozempic, which is popular among those who lose weight, but drugs can be in short supply due to problems with production.
- Producers lack the active ingredient.
The active substances come from third countries, they are not always available, this was stated by one of the largest European manufacturers of antibiotics, - said Tiisler.
Drug supply problems put not only patients in a difficult position, but also doctors who have to quickly find replacements, sometimes in conditions of scarce information about alternatives.
If earlier, in the case of a shortage of drugs, the patient had to pay the full cost of the drug prescribed as a substitute, recently the Health Insurance Fund, as an exception, decided to extend the discount to some alternatives.
According to Lee Rootslane, head of the Union of Pharmacies, problems with the supply of medicines are a growing problem throughout Europe.
- This year, in cooperation with the Drug Department and family doctors, we made recommendations so that if a problem arises, we do not solve it after the fact, but try to provide some solutions and avoid panic.
In the case of children ’ s syrups, people read about the shortage of syrup, went to the pharmacy and took two syrups instead of the usual one, ” Rootslane said.
The drug department recommends having a weekly supply of non-prescription drugs and a monthly supply of prescription drugs at home.
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Estonian hospitals faced severe medicine shortages in 2023 due to supply and raw material issues.

Saudi Arabia had 107,246 medicine shortage reports in Q1 2021, averaging 50 per hour.

Title:

Content: Saudi News
There are 50 urgent reports every hour about the shortage of medicines in Saudi Arabia.
The Ministry of Health revealed that it received 107,246 reports during the first quarter of this year 2021 regarding the lack of medicines and vaccines in hospitals and health centers affiliated to the Ministry, with 1,191 reports daily and 50 reports every hour.
According to official data issued by the Ministry, during the first quarter of this year, the health received 67,065 reports related to the lack of medicines, in addition to 40,181 reports on the lack of vaccinations in health centers.
In order to solve the problem of shortage of medicines and vaccines, the ministry said that it has established an operations room to follow up reports of shortage of medicines to identify the challenges facing health facilities in providing medicines to beneficiaries, which reduced the number of weekly reports.
Statistics of communications

Lack of medicines in the hospitals of the Ministry of Health.
Description of the communication
Reports received from some beneficiaries related to the lack of availability of the medicine disbursed to them by the establishment.
Number of complaints closed
 98.95%
Number of communications
 67065
Source of the communication
Call Center « 937 » - « Twitter »
Service Evaluation
 85.81%

Lack of vaccinations in health centers
Description of the communication
Notifications received from some beneficiaries who did not receive vaccinations service.
Number of complaints closed
 99  34%
Number of communications
 40181
Source of the communication
Call Center (937) - Twitter
Service Evaluation
 88.82%
Report Period
 Q1 - 2021
Report Period
 Q1 - 2021
Decision for improvement
An operations room has been established to follow up reports of lack of medicines to identify the challenges facing health facilities in providing medicines to beneficiaries, thus reducing the number of weekly reports.
Decision for improvement
A weekly report containing the most important challenges leading to the lack of vaccinations was directed to be prepared and presented to leaders on a regular basis, which led to a reduction in the number of reports related to this classification.
These were the details of urgent news | 50 reports every hour on the shortage of medicines in Saudi Arabia for today we hope that we have succeeded by giving you the details and full information and to follow all our news you can subscribe to the system alerts or in one of our different systems to provide you with all that is new.
It is also worth noting that the original news has been published and is available on Al-Watan Online has been verified by the editorial team in Gulf 365 and may have been modified and may have been transferred in full or quoted from it and you can read and follow up on the news from its main source.
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The US had 323 active drug shortages in 2021, a new record surpassing 2014's 320.

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. ”

Chemotherapy drugs are among the most affected, with 32 currently in shortage.

The EU proposed a solidarity mechanism to avoid medication shortages among member states.

Title:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2023. All rights reserved.
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The EU suffered antibiotic and painkiller shortages in 2021, with three-quarters of countries reporting worsening drug shortages in 2022.

India's pharma exports grew 10.45% in May 2023, with the US accounting for 30% of the total.

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India's pharma exports clock double-digit growth amid surging demand in US, UK

By IANS

New Delhi, June 18: India’s pharmaceutical exports continue to register double-digit growth, reflecting the strong demand for the country’s affordable generic medicines in global markets led by the USA and UK.

India’s pharma exports grew by 10.45 per cent in May this year to touch the $2.3 billion mark compared with the $2.08 billion in the same month of the previous financial year. “It is moving in a positive way and we are optimistic of sustaining growth of not less than 10 per cent,” Director General, Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India, Ravi Uday Bhaskar said on the quick estimate numbers released last week by the Centre.

India is now the world's third-largest drugmaker by volume amid the growing demand for the country’s pharmaceutical products in export markets. The US is a key market, which accounts for about 30 per cent of India's annual pharma exports after a nearly 16 per cent increase in fiscal 2024, according to Pharmexcil.

The country's drug shortages as well as the increased use of drugs for lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and depression is expected to fuel the demand for India's affordably priced drugs, according to Bhaskar.

According to a report by India Ratings and Research, Indian drugmakers will sustain their revenue improvement in 2024-2025 due to drug shortages in the United States. India is a hub of bulk generic drug manufacturing and drugmakers including Dr Reddy's, Cipla, Sun Pharma derive a significant share of revenue from both the US and Europe.

The world's largest drug market is facing decade-high drug shortages, India Ratings said in a note citing data from with Utah Drug Information Service. There is an active shortage of 233 drugs across 22 therapeutic categories as of April, led mainly by discontinuing production of some drugs, rising demand and delays in shipments, it said, also citing data from the US Food and Drug Administration.

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The US is experiencing decade-high drug shortages in 2024.

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India's pharma exports clock double-digit growth amid surging demand in US, UK

By IANS

New Delhi, June 18: India’s pharmaceutical exports continue to register double-digit growth, reflecting the strong demand for the country’s affordable generic medicines in global markets led by the USA and UK.

India’s pharma exports grew by 10.45 per cent in May this year to touch the $2.3 billion mark compared with the $2.08 billion in the same month of the previous financial year. “It is moving in a positive way and we are optimistic of sustaining growth of not less than 10 per cent,” Director General, Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India, Ravi Uday Bhaskar said on the quick estimate numbers released last week by the Centre.

India is now the world's third-largest drugmaker by volume amid the growing demand for the country’s pharmaceutical products in export markets. The US is a key market, which accounts for about 30 per cent of India's annual pharma exports after a nearly 16 per cent increase in fiscal 2024, according to Pharmexcil.

The country's drug shortages as well as the increased use of drugs for lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and depression is expected to fuel the demand for India's affordably priced drugs, according to Bhaskar.

According to a report by India Ratings and Research, Indian drugmakers will sustain their revenue improvement in 2024-2025 due to drug shortages in the United States. India is a hub of bulk generic drug manufacturing and drugmakers including Dr Reddy's, Cipla, Sun Pharma derive a significant share of revenue from both the US and Europe.

The world's largest drug market is facing decade-high drug shortages, India Ratings said in a note citing data from with Utah Drug Information Service. There is an active shortage of 233 drugs across 22 therapeutic categories as of April, led mainly by discontinuing production of some drugs, rising demand and delays in shipments, it said, also citing data from the US Food and Drug Administration.

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The US medicine shortage rose 30% in 2022, with an average duration of 18 months.

Title:

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

Economic factors and opaque supply chains contribute to US medicine shortages.

Natural disasters threaten global medicine production, emphasizing the need for diversified supply chains.

A global syringe shortage is predicted for 2022-2023, impacting vaccination efforts due to COVID-19 vaccine demand.

Title:

Content: COVID-19 pandemic highlights global shortage of syringes
9 November 2021
Efforts to boost production of COVID-19 vaccines must be coupled with access to the needles needed to inject those vaccines – and there could be a global shortage of needles for regular immunization campaigns next year, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday.
Based on a scenario in which about seven billion people need two doses of the coronavirus vaccine between now and 2023, the U.N. health agency said a shortage of at least one billion injections “could happen ” if their manufacturing rate does not rise.
Lisa Hedman, a senior adviser at the World Health Organization ’ s Access to Medicines and Health Products division, has warned that a generation of children could miss their scheduled vaccination doses unless manufacturers find a way to make more disposable injections.
No room for shortcuts.
“When you think about how many injections are being given to respond to a pandemic, this is not a place where we can afford shortcuts, shortages or anything less than complete safety for patients and healthcare staff. ”
She told reporters in Geneva that more than 6.8 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines are administered globally each year, nearly double the number of routine vaccinations given each year:
“Shortage of injections is unfortunately a real possibility and here are some additional figures.
"Global manufacturing capacity is around six billion per year for vaccination injections, it is quite clear that a deficit in 2022 of more than one billion could occur if we continue business as usual."
Ms Hedman explained that it is not recommended to reuse the syringes even after they have been sterilized, as harmful bacteria are still present.
She also noted that injections are particularly vulnerable to transport delays because they occupy 10 times the area of the vaccine.
The Urgent Need to Intensify Footage
Meanwhile, the heads of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank Group, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) held a follow-up session to the high-level consultations with CEOs of leading Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers on Tuesday.
At the meeting, according to a press release, all participants agreed that more doses of the vaccine should be provided to low-income countries, where less than 2.5 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated.
The objective of the meeting was to determine how to ensure a more equitable distribution of vaccines and all participants pledged to continue working together to obtain greater clarity on donations, vaccine swaps and delivery schedules, so that the distribution of life-saving vaccines is more effective towards countries in greatest need.
The meeting of the Multilateral Leaders Task Force on COVID-19 built on the technical work carried out by multidisciplinary teams during September and October.
During the consultations, the heads of the four organizations and CEOs examined how best to address trade-related constraints; how to improve the donation process; what additional steps are needed to reach the 40 per cent vaccination target in all countries by the end of the year; and how to improve transparency and data sharing with the IMF, WHO and Multilateral Leaders Task Force vaccine supply forecasting dashboard.
This effort will require close collaboration between manufacturers, governments and the Kovacs International Initiative, on improved delivery schedules, especially for donated doses.
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Global manufacturing capacity for injections is six billion per year, potentially falling short of demand.

A billion-injection shortage is possible, posing severe public health consequences.

A primary caretaker can create a list of patient medications, diseases, and allergies to prepare for potential shortages.

Title:

Content: Preparing a list of medications for patients
Font Size:
Some people suffer from many diseases and need to take a variety of drugs, which is difficult to avoid confusion.
Jurong Community Hospital pharmacist Sun Shimin reminded that caregivers should prepare a list of medications for patients in case of emergencies, such as patients unable to communicate well or suddenly unable to recall what medicine they were taking.
Jurong Community Hospital pharmacist Sun Shimin recommends that the list of medications prepared by caregivers for patients should include:
• Details of the patient, such as what disease they have, whether they are allergic to any medication or food.
• List all medications, supplements, or traditional Chinese medicines that the patient is taking (including dosage, frequency, and purpose).
If the patient only takes certain medications when necessary, it should also be noted on the list.
Reminder! If there are any changes to the medicine, remember to modify the list; when you see a doctor or buy a medicine from a pharmacist, remember to bring the list.
What should a caregiver look out for when taking a patient to a clinic, hospital or pharmacy?
The pharmacist Sun Shimin recommends:
• Make sure there is enough medication to last until the next visit.
• Also keep an eye out for the amount of medication left in your home to avoid overstocking.
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The list should include all medications, supplements, and dosages, and be updated as needed.

Title:

Content: Preparing a list of medications for patients
Font Size:
Some people suffer from many diseases and need to take a variety of drugs, which is difficult to avoid confusion.
Jurong Community Hospital pharmacist Sun Shimin reminded that caregivers should prepare a list of medications for patients in case of emergencies, such as patients unable to communicate well or suddenly unable to recall what medicine they were taking.
Jurong Community Hospital pharmacist Sun Shimin recommends that the list of medications prepared by caregivers for patients should include:
• Details of the patient, such as what disease they have, whether they are allergic to any medication or food.
• List all medications, supplements, or traditional Chinese medicines that the patient is taking (including dosage, frequency, and purpose).
If the patient only takes certain medications when necessary, it should also be noted on the list.
Reminder! If there are any changes to the medicine, remember to modify the list; when you see a doctor or buy a medicine from a pharmacist, remember to bring the list.
What should a caregiver look out for when taking a patient to a clinic, hospital or pharmacy?
The pharmacist Sun Shimin recommends:
• Make sure there is enough medication to last until the next visit.
• Also keep an eye out for the amount of medication left in your home to avoid overstocking.
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Caregivers should monitor medication levels to avoid running out of essential medications.

Title:

Content: Preparing a list of medications for patients
Font Size:
Some people suffer from many diseases and need to take a variety of drugs, which is difficult to avoid confusion.
Jurong Community Hospital pharmacist Sun Shimin reminded that caregivers should prepare a list of medications for patients in case of emergencies, such as patients unable to communicate well or suddenly unable to recall what medicine they were taking.
Jurong Community Hospital pharmacist Sun Shimin recommends that the list of medications prepared by caregivers for patients should include:
• Details of the patient, such as what disease they have, whether they are allergic to any medication or food.
• List all medications, supplements, or traditional Chinese medicines that the patient is taking (including dosage, frequency, and purpose).
If the patient only takes certain medications when necessary, it should also be noted on the list.
Reminder! If there are any changes to the medicine, remember to modify the list; when you see a doctor or buy a medicine from a pharmacist, remember to bring the list.
What should a caregiver look out for when taking a patient to a clinic, hospital or pharmacy?
The pharmacist Sun Shimin recommends:
• Make sure there is enough medication to last until the next visit.
• Also keep an eye out for the amount of medication left in your home to avoid overstocking.
LIKE Our official Facebook page for more information
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Caregivers can refill prescriptions early to mitigate shortage effects, which often involve 16.6 percent price increases.

Title:

Content: Prescription drug shortages lead to higher prices

Reporter: Andryanna Sheppard
Published: Updated:
Lea este artículo en Noticias WINK

Millions of people in the United States depend on prescription drugs to manage pain, treat medical conditions, and even to help them stay alive. However, the country’s drug shortage is making it hard for some people to get the medication they need or pay for the drugs that are available.

Federal Drug Administration data shows 90 percent of prescriptions in the US are for generic drugs. According to the National Institutes of Health, most prescription drugs involved in shortages are generic options.

There are currently more than 250 medications on the nation’s prescription drug shortage list, according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. The organization says 2023 marked the worst year for shortages in about a decade.

Jessica Kahn’s two sons were diagnosed with ADD.

“I would say tricky, tricky to navigate,” Kahn described.

For the past year, Kahn said getting their medication has been frustrating.

“I have my list of all the pharmacies. I’ve even driven all the way up north to Walgreens or a CVS, some random place to go pick up a kids’ prescription,” Kahn added.

According to the FDA, prescription drug shortages are often linked to manufacturing and quality problems, delays, and discontinuations. Two drugs used in chemotherapy, Adderall, lidocaine, and amoxicillin are just a couple of the prescription medications on the shortage list.

When drug supplies are low, prices tend to increase. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, there is a 16.6 percent increase in the price of drugs involved in a shortage. And in some cases, alternative drugs were priced at least three times higher.

“You got to be very conscientious that it might not be available and that it is not an option,” Kahn advised. “No matter how many places you call, it’s not there.”

Beating the prescription drug shortage

Health experts offer these tips:

  • Check the national drug shortage list for your medication and possible alternatives.
  • Don’t wait until your prescription is almost gone to refill it.
  • Check other pharmacies for availability and if you can’t find the generic version, look for coupons or programs that offer payment help. Some patients have reported that they receive additional help to reduce some prescription costs from $100 to $10, it’s not allowed if you are already on Medicare.
  • Websites and apps like GoodRX, RX Saver and WellRX can help you find the cheapest place that has your medication and coupons for it.

Contributors to this news report include: Lindsay Dailey, Producer; Bob Walko, Editor

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.

Alternative medications can be at least three times more expensive, making affordable options essential.

The FDA ensures the safety and quality of pharmaceutical products.

Title:

Content: The research results of the treatment effect of blood pressure drugs are published in international journals.
Health Care Network
[Health Medical Network / Reporter Zhang Cien report] In the world's advanced countries vigorously promote the use of scientific name drugs, but the public is not familiar with and does not trust scientific name drugs, and prefers to use original drugs, which is one of the reasons why the demand for original drugs and drug costs remain high.
While promoting the use of scientific name drugs, how the government will focus on the quality of scientific name drugs is a very important issue for the people of China.
In order to accelerate the registration of scientific name drugs in line with international standards, the ROC Scientific Name Pharmaceutical Association held a forum to invite the Director of the Department of Food and Drug Administration, Lin Chengzheng, to explain the “Key Points of Examination for Registration of Scientific Name Drugs ” and share cases, to help those interested in applying for relevant examination registration to further understand the relevant examination amount, so that the product can be successfully registered.
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Strictly ensure the safety of pharmaceutical products
Generic drug refers to the expiration of the patent rights of the original drug (Brand drug), other qualified pharmaceutical companies can use the same ingredients and processes to produce approved drugs, and its use, dosage, safety, efficacy, delivery route, quality, and other characteristics, can be exactly the same as the original drug.
In order to ensure the safety of medicines for the public, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to conduct post-market management of pharmaceutical products, especially famous pharmaceutical products, including active monitoring, sampling and factory inspection.
In this forum, Dr. Wang Pui-yu, Director of the Center for the Development of Pharmaceutical Technology, was invited to discuss the development status and quality achievements of the pharmaceutical industry in China. He also worked with domestic pharmaceutical companies to continue to assist the development of the pharmaceutical industry in China and expand the international market.
The world 's original lack of drugs, wave of scientific name drugs control blood pressure effect is equivalent
High blood pressure is the world ’ s first health killer, tens of millions of people die each year due to disease, and the total population of cardiovascular diseases is increasing year by year.
Dr. Chu Bo-hsien, M.D., Department of Cardiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Lin Kou, was invited to share his research team and Professor Chen Wenzhong, M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D., M.D.,
Moreover, this research result has been featured in the cover story of international journals, which not only improves the level of scientific drug research, but also won the recognition of the international medical academic community, and hopes that in the future, it should be included in the imitation list, providing doctors and patients with appropriate reference options.
Professor Hu Youpu, the permanent host of this seminar, will propose how to reduce the side effects or new uses of drugs with new formulations, and develop a "patent name medicine" for the reference of medical personnel, hoping to improve the feasibility of R & D of "patent name medicine" in China.
Since its inception in 1993, the forum has been held for 19 years, and has been held for 105 consecutive years. Through the participation of the pharmaceutical industry, industry, government, academia and research elites, the forum continues to promote the issue of pharmaceutical substances.
This forum is a collection of review and clinical medical opinions, so that the public can understand more about the long-term use experience of domestic famous drugs, to prove that domestic famous drugs are as good as original drugs, clinicians and patients have more academic support and confidence, so that domestic famous drug implementation regulations and practices are in line with the international track.
Source: Healthnews.com https: / / www.healthnews.com.tw / readnews.php? id = 59567
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Generic drugs have the same ingredients and processes as original drugs and can be used as alternatives during shortages.

Patients can switch to alternative strengths or brands with healthcare consultation.

Title:

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

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

It is understood the shortage impacted some prescription paracetamol products.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Caregivers and healthcare professionals can consult pharmacists about alternative products.

The Ministry of Health oversees medicine substitution controls with input from clinical experts and hospital pharmacists.

Title:

Content: April 18, 2022
18 Apr 2022 ° C
Health: Discussing the use of medicines and their substitution
+ - 0 Read
The Minister of Health, Abderrahmane Ben Bouzid, oversaw a meeting to discuss how to use vital alternatives drugs and their replacement controls in order to ensure optimal care for patients, according to a statement by the same ministry on Monday.
During the meeting, on Sunday, in the presence of the ministry ’ s cadres, clinical experts from various specialties (oncology, hematology, joint medicine, internal medicine) and hospital pharmacists, the minister stressed the need to take care of patients through “quality health care. ”
The meeting is part of the Ministry of Health ’ s efforts to provide and ensure medicines for patients at the level of hospital institutions, where the focus was on preparing recommendations that would ensure patients through “quality health care ” by“ ensuring continuous provision of medicines to all patients at the lowest cost, thus allowing the central pharmacy of hospitals to acquire all registered medicines. ”
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A central pharmacy can supply registered medicines to all hospital institutions at the lowest cost.

Title:

Content: April 18, 2022
18 Apr 2022 ° C
Health: Discussing the use of medicines and their substitution
+ - 0 Read
The Minister of Health, Abderrahmane Ben Bouzid, oversaw a meeting to discuss how to use vital alternatives drugs and their replacement controls in order to ensure optimal care for patients, according to a statement by the same ministry on Monday.
During the meeting, on Sunday, in the presence of the ministry ’ s cadres, clinical experts from various specialties (oncology, hematology, joint medicine, internal medicine) and hospital pharmacists, the minister stressed the need to take care of patients through “quality health care. ”
The meeting is part of the Ministry of Health ’ s efforts to provide and ensure medicines for patients at the level of hospital institutions, where the focus was on preparing recommendations that would ensure patients through “quality health care ” by“ ensuring continuous provision of medicines to all patients at the lowest cost, thus allowing the central pharmacy of hospitals to acquire all registered medicines. ”
Share your opinion

Caregivers must know patient medications to ensure safety and monitor efficacy and side effects.

Title:

Content: What are the challenges for caregivers?
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Caregivers face many challenges in caring for patients, including the need to know what medications the patient is taking.
What are some tips to help ensure that patients take their medication correctly? Sun Shi-min, a pharmacist at Yue Leng Community Hospital, was asked by the New Tomorrow Daily to give advice.
Chemist Sun Shimin said it is especially important for caregivers to know what medications patients are taking because:
• Caregivers can help remind patients to take their medications as directed, or help monitor patients to avoid foods that interact with medications.
• If medications are changed, caregivers can help monitor the efficacy and side effects of medications.
• In the event of an emergency, if the patient cannot recall what medication he or she is taking, or if he or she cannot communicate well with a healthcare professional, the caregiver can assist if necessary.
To ensure that patients take their medication correctly, pharmacist Sun Shimin advises caregivers to:
• Adopting a “reminder ” strategy, such as setting an alarm clock or posting a sticker to remind you when to take your medication.
• Ensure that patients use their medication in the right way, including using the inhaler correctly, injecting insulin correctly, and so on.
• Be aware that patients may interact with other medications or foods, and that some medications cannot be crushed, chewed, or cut.
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Caregivers and reminder strategies can help patients take medication correctly in emergencies.

Title:

Content: What are the challenges for caregivers?
Font Size:
Caregivers face many challenges in caring for patients, including the need to know what medications the patient is taking.
What are some tips to help ensure that patients take their medication correctly? Sun Shi-min, a pharmacist at Yue Leng Community Hospital, was asked by the New Tomorrow Daily to give advice.
Chemist Sun Shimin said it is especially important for caregivers to know what medications patients are taking because:
• Caregivers can help remind patients to take their medications as directed, or help monitor patients to avoid foods that interact with medications.
• If medications are changed, caregivers can help monitor the efficacy and side effects of medications.
• In the event of an emergency, if the patient cannot recall what medication he or she is taking, or if he or she cannot communicate well with a healthcare professional, the caregiver can assist if necessary.
To ensure that patients take their medication correctly, pharmacist Sun Shimin advises caregivers to:
• Adopting a “reminder ” strategy, such as setting an alarm clock or posting a sticker to remind you when to take your medication.
• Ensure that patients use their medication in the right way, including using the inhaler correctly, injecting insulin correctly, and so on.
• Be aware that patients may interact with other medications or foods, and that some medications cannot be crushed, chewed, or cut.
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The Drug Authority provides alternatives and a medicine availability hotline at 16682.

Title:

Content: Saturday 13 July 2024
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
Abdurrahim Ali
Editor-in-Chief
Dalia Abdul Rahim
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editorial Board
Abdurrahim Ali
Editor-in-Chief
Dalia Abdul Rahim
Reports & Investigations
A “cure ” for the lack of medicine.
News portal monitors the suffering of health insurance patients..
Health Minister Apologizes to Citizens
Head of the division: Insistence on using the trade name exacerbates the problem
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Hundreds of chronic disease patients from health insurance clinics suffer from a lack of treatments and medicines, especially diabetics; because of the lack of insulin and many other medicines that are not available, where the journey of great suffering begins after the patient leaves the examination room and the doctor writes the necessary treatment in the prescription, to surprise patients that the treatment does not exist and he has to look for it himself.
In this report, "Al-Bawaba News" monitors the suffering of patients looking for medicine in light of the lack of the market of local and imported medicines in health insurance pharmacies and free market pharmacies, where « Al-Bawaba » met "Amina", a 50-year-old woman suffering from diabetes, went to health insurance in the city of Al-Mahalla Al-Kubra, in an attempt to get her treatment to clash with reality. The health insurance deducts a fixed monthly subscription for her treatment, but the head of the pharmacy inside Ibn Sina Clinic in Mahalla Al-Kubra confirmed that the treatment is not currently available, and that the patient must go to three pharmacies affiliated with the Health Insurance Authority, and three pharmacies outside it affiliated with the Health Insurance also, to get the medicine.
"Amina" did not despair of attempts and despite her illness, she went to 6 pharmacies affiliated with health insurance inside and outside the headquarters and did not find sugar medicines available, even she did not find it in the free market in various pharmacies.
The suffering continues.
Amina ’ s condition is not unique in the midst of a hustle of medication shortages, as Menna Magdy from Giza also complained about the lack of insulin and tapes needed for a glucose meter, which has become rare.
“Mina ”, the mother of a diabetic child, said:“ I am a son diagnosed from 1 year and 4 months with diabetes type I take Novo Rapid and sediment, of course we are supposed to take insulin from insurance and imposed according to measurements, but they do not need enough insulin in the middle of the lack of drugs, and when Benji I spend the treatment every two months..
We have to take medicine from other patients. ”
She pointed out that there is a clear suffering that appears in the patient groups and we are trying together to find solutions to the shortage of drugs, insulin and tapes, even in pharmacies in free markets we do not find.
She added in desperation: "We kept reducing the quantities of medicine against our will and from how many days of insulin ended up on the pharmacies of October all so that I find one Novo pen but not you."
In the governorate of Ismailia, despite the application of comprehensive health insurance in the governorate, but she has seen a shortage of medicines inside pharmacies, "Rawda", a mother of two diabetics, says that she suffers from the provision of medicines to her children with immune diabetes, where for the past 3 months she was unable to provide medicine from health insurance.
She added that after suffering a few doses were dispensed and without sugar measurement strips, and added that some substitutes of drugs for diabetes led to double pathological symptoms, where one of her children suffered from a high cumulative rate of up to 15 and enter the intensive care.
She pointed out that the shortage of medicines is not only in health insurance pharmacies and the public sector, but in free pharmacies, where she is looking for medicines in her province and neighboring provinces in order to obtain the prescribed doses of sugar for her sons.
Lack of medicines
Dr. Mahmoud Fouad, Executive Director of the Right to Medicine Association, stressed that there is a shortage of many medicines for many diseases such as immunological diseases, Mediterranean anemia, SLE, Duchenne diseases, muscular dystrophy, neurologic and psychological drugs, in addition to some hormone drugs.
Fouad explained in a statement to "Al-Bawaba News", that diabetics suffer from the lack of availability of some diabetes drugs, especially popular insulin, although there is an increase in the recent drug varieties to more than 30% of the drugs.
Fouad pointed out that there are some traders who store medicines in stores to offer them in the market at new prices, in addition to many problems related to imported medicines, which have also increased their price significantly.
Fouad pointed out that there is a new increase in a large number of items in the coming days by up to 50% and up to 80% for imported medicines.
In the same context, Dr. Ali Auf, head of the medicine division of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, said that the problem of medicine shortage is not only related to the provision of medicine from the state or pharmaceutical factories, but also related to the culture of the citizen in dealing with these medicines.
The head of the medicine division said in statements to "Al-Bawaba News" that the citizen deals badly with drugs in two cases, the first of which is to store a large amount in the case of a shortage and then provide it in pharmacies; for fear of suffering in obtaining it if shortage, and thus causes this behavior to deprive other patients to get their doses on time.
He added that the other wrong behavior is the use of essential drugs to treat some diseases such as diabetes in the treatment of another disease such as obesity, and therefore drugs are consumed at a higher rate than the production of companies, which makes the period of the end of the crisis longer than necessary.
He pointed out that most sugar medicines (pills) are available under the scientific name and not the commercial name, and that local insulin is manufactured internally and 85% of the insulin available in Egypt is local production, but the production covers the needs of health insurance and hospitals of the Ministry of Health and the government sector.
He added that there is a crisis in imported insulin, where it is available only by 15%, and international factories adhere to a production plan, and therefore in the case of increased consumption of drugs is not increased production in the actual time for the shortage of medicine, and thus patients in the local market resort to Egyptian insulin shows demand for medicine, which is a pressure and shows cases of drug shortage.
He pointed out that there is a near breakthrough to provide medicine, and that it is easy for Egyptians to deal with the scientific name and not commercial, and in case of any drug shortage, call the ambulance pharmacies available in Greater Cairo and the governorates through the hotline 16682 or call the Drug Authority on the hot number 15301; to find out where any medicines are missing and the scientific alternative to it.
For its part, the Drug Authority explained through its official page on Facebook that there are many alternatives to authentic medicines and all of them are safe and have the same effect and effectiveness as the original medicine; pointing out that the alternative medicine, is a medicine composed of an active substance different from the original medicine, but it is used to treat the same disease.
The Egyptian Medicines Authority advised that you should consult your doctor or pharmacist before using an alternative medicine as they can help you ensure that the alternative medicine is suitable for you and that it will not interact with any other medicines you are taking.
In the same context, the Authority said in a press release that Dr. Ali Al-Ghamrawi, President of the Egyptian Drug Authority, received a delegation of representatives of local companies and the Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industry to discuss ways of cooperation between the Authority, companies and the Chamber to provide medicines and necessary supplies in the Egyptian market.
Promises of the new government
In his first remarks to the new government on the crises of medicine, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said today in a press conference that the pharmaceutical sector in Egypt follows the private sector, and that the state is coordinating with the private sector to reduce the prices of medicine, stressing that the state is keen to stabilize the prices of medicine, especially that the Egyptian medicine is cheaper than most countries in the world.
He explained that the state is procuring the dollar to provide raw materials for manufacturing, and that the import of raw material at the daily price of the dollar caused great losses to the state.
Timeline
On the lack of medicine, the Prime Minister said that the drug prices were coordinated by the Drug Authority after developing a plan with the companies for the absence of any shortage of medicines in the coming period, and explained that the drug productivity takes a great time in manufacturing and therefore there is a shortage of medicines in the markets, pointing out that the coming period will witness a great abundance of medicines.
For his part, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health, revealed that the drug file is important and has a dimension in the Egyptian national security, and affected like any commodity with dollar components during the last year and a half in light of the existence of global crises.
He explained that since the beginning of the crisis and the perception of the lack of currency to cover the needs, priorities have been set so that the citizen does not feel a shortage, stressing that the guests from Gaza and Sudan are all additions that affected the requirements of production and the basics of the pharmaceutical industry of raw materials.
He added that there were deficiencies in some types of medicines, but there are alternative or similar medicines and this culture is not approved by many, in the absence of the medicine written by the doctor they say it is incomplete.
Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health, continued that Egypt is the cheapest country in the world in medicine, and the unable is not affected by the high prices of medicine, adding that the state provides it and the Egyptian pharmaceutical industry covers 95% of the needs.
He added that there are 69 million citizens who are insured in the health insurance system that has existed since the 1960s, in addition to the beneficiaries of treatment decisions at the expense of the state.
Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health, said that the drug pricing procedures are the prerogatives of the Egyptian Drug Authority, pointing out that the increase in drug prices will be in the range of 30 to 35%.
The minister apologized.
The Minister of Health apologized to the citizens for the shortage of some medicines in the markets during the recent period, stressing that during the next few months there will be no shortage of imported or local medicines, as the import of raw materials began to restart production and will be in cooperation with the entire minister to take care of the pharmaceutical industry.
He added that the state is keen to provide all the necessary capabilities for the treatment of patients and the provision of medicines, and that there is an upcoming international cooperation with the international institution "Gustav" for the treatment of tumors in France, which does not have a presence outside France.
It receives patients from all over the world, which is the center of excellence for the treatment of tumors in the world, and the efforts of the Egyptian government have been successful in persuading it to receive the center with all its competencies and expertise to participate the Ministry of Health in the work of a hospital in Egypt.
He explained that Egyptian doctors will be trained abroad to transfer international experiences and expertise to Egypt, stressing that the citizen will be treated at the highest international level without incurring any dime, but paid instead by the state through health insurance.
He stressed the completion of 24 projects to develop hospitals at a cost of 7.34 billion pounds, adding that there are 20 new projects in 11 governorates and these hospitals will operate with a capacity of 2,747 beds.
Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health, said that the presidential initiatives launched by President Sisi led to an increase in the average age of the Egyptian human being.
Dr. Abdul Ghaffar explained that the national projects plan from 2025 to 2026, stressing that it includes 54 projects in 24 governorates in the Republic and will operate with a capacity of 9588 beds.
Dr. Abdel Ghaffar added that the comprehensive health insurance project will end in 2030 and will cover all governorates of the Republic, stressing that Egypt has received thousands of sick and injured cases coming from the Gaza Strip, and will be assisted in rebuilding the health system in the Gaza Strip within the framework of Egyptian assistance to the brothers.

The government provides health insurance, which helps mitigate medication shortages with alternative medicines.

EU reforms aim to increase transparency and address shortages in the pharmaceutical industry, which can lead to rising drug prices.

The European Commission's proposal to shorten drug evaluation from 210 to 180 days was rejected by Prescrire.

Caregivers should be aware of the potential risks of medication shortages, including treatment delays and ethical allocation issues.

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.

Switching medication regimens can help mitigate shortages and ensure continuity of care.

The FDA can shut down non-compliant drug manufacturers, who can otherwise increase production to meet demand.

Industry consolidations and manufacturing difficulties can lead to medicine shortages, requiring a multi-stakeholder response to ensure patient safety.

Raw material shortages can cause medicine shortages, so healthcare systems need coping strategies.

Caregivers help patients navigate medication shortages and remind them to take medications as directed.

Title:

Content: What are the challenges for caregivers?
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Caregivers face many challenges in caring for patients, including the need to know what medications the patient is taking.
What are some tips to help ensure that patients take their medication correctly? Sun Shi-min, a pharmacist at Yue Leng Community Hospital, was asked by the New Tomorrow Daily to give advice.
Chemist Sun Shimin said it is especially important for caregivers to know what medications patients are taking because:
• Caregivers can help remind patients to take their medications as directed, or help monitor patients to avoid foods that interact with medications.
• If medications are changed, caregivers can help monitor the efficacy and side effects of medications.
• In the event of an emergency, if the patient cannot recall what medication he or she is taking, or if he or she cannot communicate well with a healthcare professional, the caregiver can assist if necessary.
To ensure that patients take their medication correctly, pharmacist Sun Shimin advises caregivers to:
• Adopting a “reminder ” strategy, such as setting an alarm clock or posting a sticker to remind you when to take your medication.
• Ensure that patients use their medication in the right way, including using the inhaler correctly, injecting insulin correctly, and so on.
• Be aware that patients may interact with other medications or foods, and that some medications cannot be crushed, chewed, or cut.
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Caregivers can monitor patients for food interactions, medication efficacy, and side effects.

Title:

Content: What are the challenges for caregivers?
Font Size:
Caregivers face many challenges in caring for patients, including the need to know what medications the patient is taking.
What are some tips to help ensure that patients take their medication correctly? Sun Shi-min, a pharmacist at Yue Leng Community Hospital, was asked by the New Tomorrow Daily to give advice.
Chemist Sun Shimin said it is especially important for caregivers to know what medications patients are taking because:
• Caregivers can help remind patients to take their medications as directed, or help monitor patients to avoid foods that interact with medications.
• If medications are changed, caregivers can help monitor the efficacy and side effects of medications.
• In the event of an emergency, if the patient cannot recall what medication he or she is taking, or if he or she cannot communicate well with a healthcare professional, the caregiver can assist if necessary.
To ensure that patients take their medication correctly, pharmacist Sun Shimin advises caregivers to:
• Adopting a “reminder ” strategy, such as setting an alarm clock or posting a sticker to remind you when to take your medication.
• Ensure that patients use their medication in the right way, including using the inhaler correctly, injecting insulin correctly, and so on.
• Be aware that patients may interact with other medications or foods, and that some medications cannot be crushed, chewed, or cut.
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Caregivers can use tools like the national drug shortage list to find alternative medications.

Websites like GoodRX and RX Saver can help find cheap medications and manage shortage costs.

Patient Support Programs and digital monitoring systems can help with medication costs and track financial toxicity.

Title:

Content: What should I do if I have heavy medical expenses?!
Patient Support Program Resolves Financial Toxicity
Health Care Network
Taiwan ’ s health insurance is widely praised internationally, but with the advent of new medicines, not only is the pace of payment for new medicines slowing down, but the conditions for payment are becoming increasingly stringent, making many patients have to bear huge treatment expenses at their own expense.
In addition to the disease itself, high drug bills once again constitute another “economic poison ” for patients and their families.
This situation, described by experts as “financial toxicity ”, has made the long road to recovery even more distant and aroused widespread concern.
This is an advertisement, please continue reading.
Measure financial toxicity to reduce financial stress in cancer patients
Measuring financial toxicity for patients with advanced cancer can help reduce their financial burden, according to a new report in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
By regularly tracking the financial status of patients with advanced cancer through a digital monitoring system, we can help them identify possible financial problems early and seek support and advice.
Digital monitoring methods include online or automated phone visits during the visit, covering symptoms, daily life functions, and financial toxicity scales designed for chronic disease treatment.
Among patients who participated in the financial toxicity measure (the experimental group), 30.2% experienced financial deterioration, compared to 39.0% in the control group (patients who did not receive digital monitoring).
Caregivers and subjects said in research interviews that continuous financial toxicity screening helps them identify patients who may not want (or know) to get help.
Patient support programs to help you get treatment easily
Since 2015, PatientsForce has launched Patient Assistance Programs (hereinafter referred to as PAPs) to provide short-term but highly effective support for out-of-pocket patients.
The program helps patients with medications to increase their affordability of out-of-pocket medications through a drug grant or financial support program.
Zhang Xiangxin, Group General Manager, said: “PAPs are targeted at patients with out-of-pocket treatment needs.
Our goal is to help them receive treatment more easily, reduce financial stress on their families, and improve the quality of life for patients and their families.
PatientsForce ’ s self-developed Patient Support Compliance Management System enables patients to apply for and receive a variety of medication support programs more smoothly, while effectively reducing the burden of medication management for caregivers and healthcare workers.
PatientsForce not only provides innovative financial support solutions, but also financial toxicity measurement services for patients and caregivers.
Through regular monitoring, caregivers or healthcare professionals can better understand the financial status of patients during out-of-pocket treatment, so that patients who experience financial toxicity can receive the necessary counseling and assistance in a timely manner. Join the PatientsForce official account to learn more about our services.
REFERENCES
DOI: 10.1200 / JCO.22.02834 Journal of Clinical Oncology 41, no. 29 (October 10, 2023) 4652-4663.
Source: Healthnews.com https: / / www.healthnews.com.tw / readnews.php? id = 59928
Please like this article and share it with your friends! More health information: https: / / www.healthnews.com.tw
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The Drug Deficiency Database tracks drug shortages and provides valuable information for caregivers.

Family-friendly policies can support caregivers during medication shortages.

Title:

Content: you are here: HomeNewsBusiness

7 ways SMEs can support caregiving responsibilities of employees

With flexible work arrangements, family-friendly policies and supportive workplace culture, small firms can help their employees in balancing work and caregiving

July 08, 2023 / 08:18 AM IST

Helping employees care for elderly and children can enhance SMEs’ productivity.

Caregiving responsibilities can have a significant impact on the careers of working adults, particularly women caring for children and elderly family members. Women often shoulder a disproportionate share of caregiving duties. This can lead to challenges in balancing work and family responsibilities, which in turn can affect their ability to be effective at the workplace.

The impact of caregiving on women employees’ career progress, work-life balance, and overall professional gains is significant even as the awareness for DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) is rising. This puts the onus on companies to create policies and processes to address the same. Large companies have the bandwidth and the wherewithal for it. Small companies need to take cognisance of this.

Here are some ways in which small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can support their employees in balancing work and caregiving:

1 Flexible work arrangements: Offer flexible work options such as remote work, flexible hours, part-time schedules, or job-sharing arrangements. This flexibility enables caregivers to manage their caregiving responsibilities while still contributing to their work. This is often shunned due to the wrong assumption that these arrangements are a drag on productivity. The reality is that a successful policy actually leads to better motivation, employee engagement and performance.

2 Family-friendly policies: Implementing family-friendly policies like extended parental leave, childcare assistance, on-site or subsidised daycare facilities, and flexible return-to-work programmes demonstrate the company's commitment to supporting caregivers and can alleviate some of their challenges. Once again, on the face of it, it looks a lot like more paid time off and less productivity. However, having a person conflicted about whether to fulfil his/her caregiving duties while being physically present in the office, or being on call, does not benefit any stakeholder, including the company.

3 Supportive workplace culture: Foster a supportive and inclusive workplace culture that values work-life balance and acknowledges the caregiving responsibilities of employees. Encouraging open communication and providing resources for employees to seek support, such as employee assistance programmes or counselling services will help the overall wellbeing of the company and its people.

4 Employee resource groups: Establish employee resource groups or support networks specifically designed for caregivers. These groups can provide a platform for sharing experiences, offering advice, and organising relevant resources and events. Having an ally at the workplace who is going through or has gone through similar struggles is a tremendous help. Offer employee assistance programmes like counselling, referral services, etc, to help people manage their caregiving challenges.

5 Employee benefits: Offer comprehensive benefits packages that include options for health insurance, dependent care assistance, flexible spending accounts, and other benefits that can directly support caregiving responsibilities. When done at a company level, the additional cost is not much. In an SME, this can be a big help for the employees as their expenses on these services will be much less when provided under group cover. In some instances, like medical cover for parents who are dependent senior citizens, it is a big help.

6 Clear communication and transparency: Maintain open and transparent communication channels to ensure employees feel comfortable discussing issues including their caregiving responsibilities and related challenges. Encourage supervisors and managers to be understanding and accommodating when it comes to caregiving issues. Regularly seek feedback from employees regarding their work-life balance and caregiving needs. Conduct surveys or focus groups to understand their challenges better and identify areas for improvement or additional support.

7 Professional development and advancement opportunities: Offer opportunities for professional development, mentoring, and advancement to employees who may have taken career breaks or reduced their hours due to caregiving responsibilities. Provide avenues for them to re-enter the workforce and continue progressing in their careers.

When leaders demonstrate understanding and actively support employees with caregiving responsibilities, it sets a positive tone for the entire organisation. Encourage senior leaders and managers to lead by example in balancing work and caregiving responsibilities.

These are general strategies, which underline the importance of how the company cares and is there for the employee in fair and rough situations. India has one of the best maternity leave policies in the world. When this was extended to six months, it was initially seen as a hurdle, but companies have adapted to it. Caregiving is increasingly becoming gender-agnostic. Therefore, it is no longer just women who might be a minority in the workforce needing such support.

M Muneer is the managing director of CustomerLab Solutions, a consulting firm.
Gayatri Krishnamurthy is a senior HR expert and leadership coach.
first published: Jul 8, 2023 08:18 am

In countries like Taiwan, the Drug Cost Allocation Target System and health insurance cover around 25% of medication costs.

Title:

Content: The domestic shortage of drugs has spread, and the issue of drug payment has also sparked discussion.
The NGO believes that under the limited health insurance resources, it is necessary to cut expenditure and speed up the steps of instructing the use of drugs to exclude health insurance payments.
For the Drug Cost Allocation Target System (DET), which has been in place for 10 years, experts from all walks of life should also be convened to discuss the reform.
As there are still people who do not know through what channel to obtain alternative medicines, and some hospitals will still be stamped with irreplaceable seals, the government should also put forward the corresponding measures for the people.
Lin Ya-hui, executive director of the Medical Reform Commission, pointed out that the cost of medicines in Taiwan accounts for about 25% of the total amount of health insurance, while in other advanced countries it is about 10-20%, and the cost of medicines is too high, which will crowd out other medical services.
The payment of pharmaceutical products is very complicated. In addition to considering the financial balance, it must also take into account the quality of medical care and the development of industry.
Under the limited health insurance resources, if there is no open source, the most important thing is to cut expenditure.
According to the provisions of the "Health Insurance Law", instructing the use of drugs and the scope of health insurance payment, Lin Ya-hui believes that health insurance should not still pay so many instructions to use drugs today, and should accelerate the step of excluding payment.
If it is necessary to pay, it can be listed in order to carry out an inventory.
For the DET system, which has been piloted since 2013, the pharmaceutical industry, the medical community, patients, and experts should also be convened to discuss whether and how the system needs to be reformed.
Lin Ya-hui pointed out that in response to the shortage of drugs, the government should not only solve the supply side, but also solve the demand side.
Many people do not have access to medicines and do not know how to obtain alternative medicines.
In addition, some hospitals in order to leave the takedown of the medicine in the hospital, will be stamped with an irreplaceable seal on the slow note. If the item imported by the pharmacy is 50 ml, and the hospital specifies 100 ml, even if the same ingredients, the public can not receive the medicine in the community pharmacy, which will lose the beauty of graded medical care.
The government must come up with a more refined approach to address the panic of the people as soon as possible.
The medical community calls on health insurance to increase investment in health care to solve the shortage of medicines. Wu Hung-lai, president of the Taiwan Alliance of Sick Friends, believes that simply increasing money will not necessarily solve the problem. Take the United States for example, health care spending accounts for a high proportion of GDP, but the results are not good.
The government should not give instructions to give money, but to build a better system.
# PAY # DRUGS # HEALTH CARE # INDICATIVE DRUGS # DISCUSSION

Experts discuss the need to reform the Drug Cost Allocation Target System to better support caregivers and patients.

The FDA allows import of certain overseas drugs to alleviate shortages, including chemotherapy.

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

Hospital pharmacists report widespread drug shortages, including chemotherapy, with 99% experiencing some supply shortages.

Healthcare systems and pharmacists can provide guidance on temporary therapeutic alternatives during shortages.

Aifa publishes tables on drug interactions, a useful resource for caregivers.

Title:

Content: Home Health Drug shortage. Palù (Aifa): “There is no real alarm”. Anti Covid vaccines: “60-70% over 60 did not receive the fourth dose, it is good that he does”

Drug shortage. Palù (Aifa): “There is no real alarm”. Anti Covid vaccines: “60-70% over 60 did not receive the fourth dose, it is good that he does”

by admin

“The fourth dose is not only 90% effective in preventing mortality but also in limiting the spread of the virus”, recalled the president Aifa speaking to SkyTg24. As for the shortage of medicines: “The shortage is an objective fact, but Italy is one step ahead of the others. There is no real alarm, also because there is coverage provided by equivalent medicines. Communication between doctors and pharmacists needs to be improved “.

12 GEN

“There has been a significant drop in the resumption of vaccinations. Among people over the age of 60, 60-70% did not make the second booster, the so-called fourth dose”.

This was stated by the president of the Italian drug agency (Aifa) George Paluhost of Sky TG24.

“It is good to have the second vaccination booster – recalls Palù – as shown by a study on prisoners published in Nature Genetics: the fourth dose is not only 90% effective in preventing mortality but also in limiting the spread of the virus”. As for therapies, “we have very effective antivirals such as remdesivir, which is given in infusion; while molnupiravir is slightly less effective but China is buying it because it is easily taken” in pills. And then, he continues, “there is paxlovid, which unfortunately interferes with some drugs and general practitioners who can prescribe it are a bit hesitant, but Aifa has taken action by publishing a table on the site with indications of possible drug-drug interactions”.

As for the shortage of medicines, the president of Aifa explains: “The shortage is an objective fact, but Italy is one step ahead of the others. There is no real alarm, also because there is coverage provided by equivalent medicines. However, improvements need to be made communication between doctors and pharmacists”.

See also  here is the study - Libero Quotidiano

Palù then reported that Aifa maintains a constantly updated page of currently deficient drugs, which can be regularly visited by doctors, professionals and pharmacists. A list that today includes 3,197 drugs. “In reality – explains Palu’ – most of them are drugs that are no longer produced or are no longer on the market, but for almost all there is an equivalent or a therapeutic alternative. Of the total, 300 are somewhat missing because they are imported medicines – said Palù – but only 30 of these are truly essential because they do not find a counterpart produced by an Italian industry”. Drugs used in operating rooms, but also anti-inflammatories, cortisones, muscle relaxants and antibiotics of which, clarifies the president Aifa, “we always have valid alternatives”.

Despite this, Palù specified, “Minister Schillaci did very well to order the checks. People go to the pharmacy and don’t find the medicines they were used to, the doctor still prescribes the old medicines, there has been a request from so-called stakeholders, the minister was concerned. And I believe that what will come out of it will be more information”.

“So I want to say that perhaps this is not perfect communication. An important dialogue is needed between doctors, pharmacists and trade associations, and above all doctors who are knowledgeable and trained to access this information which is constantly available” Palù concluded.

January 12, 2023
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In Ireland, a paracetamol shortage occurred due to Covid-19 and flu, with alternative brands available.

In France, 44% of people faced a drug shortage in 2024, prompting calls for transparency among health professionals.

The European Union has implemented measures to reform the pharmaceutical industry and alleviate shortages.

Jordan's Ministry of Health faces medication shortages, with a 2023 medicine budget of 103.75 million dinars.

Title:

Content: Lack of medicines in MOH hospitals and accumulation of indebtedness Repercussions / solutions
3 hours ago
Dr. Naeem Malkawi
The problem of shortage of medicines in Jordanian hospitals requires quick and effective attention and intervention, as providing medicines to patients is one of the foundations of quality health care and one of the most important strategies of the Ministry of Health, however, the shortage of medicines in many hospitals leads to health, economic and social challenges that threaten the quality of health care and patient safety.
The budget of the Ministry of Health of medicines, vaccines, vaccines and medical consumables for this year 2023 was estimated at 103.75 million dinars, where the actual for the past year 2022 was 93.8 million dinars.
The question is, how did the Ministry of Health accumulate such a large indebtedness in the item of medicines to reach 300 million dinars for pharmaceutical companies?
And why last week was the debt of 2019 cleared and deducted estimated at 50% of the debt for that year?
This means that there is still a delay in the payment of dues for companies for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022 in addition to eight months of the current year 2023, and this brings us to a range of reasons and challenges:
1.
The aim of the Ministry of Health was to reduce the bureaucracy of procedures and overcome the complexity of procurement references in hospitals and health directorates in the governorates and not to obtain price and discount preferences, but the results indicate a defect in the management and mechanism of dealing with the strategy of unified and central procurement, despite the margin for hospital administrations to use the power of direct purchase in cases of necessity.
2.
Preparation of sub-budgets for hospitals: Evidence shows that there is a problem in the preparation of sub-budgets for hospitals and the main budget of the Ministry of Health with regard to the item of medicines, which is due to the lack of accurate and sufficient data on the number of patients and hospital needs of medicines, and the lack of accurate forecasting of future needs.
3.
Delays in the review of financial claims and invoices between the Ministry of Health and the hospitals on the one hand and the pharmaceutical companies on the other hand, is one of the most important reasons behind the accumulation of indebtedness, and this negatively affects the liquidity of the pharmaceutical companies and hinders them from providing a sustainable service in adhering to the procedures of supplying medicines according to schedule.
4.
Lack of coordination and communication: There may be a lack of coordination and communication between hospitals, the Ministry of Health and pharmaceutical companies, which complicates the supply and distribution of medicines and increases the chances of delays and the depletion of medicines from hospitals in the absence of an effective policy for stock management and the time required for stock adequacy.
5.
Focusing on the trade names of certain drugs from specific production sources and not adopting the protocol of writing the scientific name for the prescriptions of patients.
6.
One of the reasons that may be major and important at the same time is the funding aspect and the lack of the necessary allocations or use them in other aspects other than medicines to fill a deficit or emergency during the use of budget items due to the scarcity of available liquidity. Medication.
Lack of medication can lead to:
1.
Threat to patient safety: Lack of medication puts sick people at risk, as this can lead to delays in receiving necessary treatment or the unavailability of vital drugs, putting their lives at risk.
2.
Economic Implications: The lack of medicines entails additional economic costs for the health system and patients.
Medical cases may be referred to other medical centers or private hospitals, increasing pressure on other MOH budget items.
3.
Pressure on health care workers: Health care workers are under pressure as a result of dealing with patients affected by drug shortages and repeatedly facing their inquiries and complaints.
4.
Social repercussions:
Increased anxiety and stress: A lack of medication can lead to an increase in anxiety and stress among patients and their families, as they live in uncertainty about the availability of the necessary treatment.
Lack of medication can affect the level of trust in the health system among citizens, who may feel that the system is unable to provide them with adequate health care.
Increased costs and social burdens: Some patients may have to incur additional costs to obtain drugs from other sources outside hospitals, affecting their financial and economic status.
After all this narrative there must be ways to overcome these dilemmas:
1.
Preparation of budgets scientifically and professionally: Hospitals should develop more accurate standards for the preparation of sub-budgets for medicines, through the analysis of previous data, estimation of future needs and other scientific and methodological foundations in the preparation of budgets and commitment to apply them accurately.
2.
Improve coordination and communication between parties: Coordination between the Ministry of Health, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies should be strengthened through the establishment of structured mechanisms for information exchange, review of invoices, and completion of claims, and not delay them.
3.
Implementation of fiscal reforms: The Government and the Ministry of Health should implement fiscal reforms that provide funding to cover this important item and pay dues in a timely manner, reduce bureaucracy in the financial audit process, and proceed with payment procedures within the timetable mechanism agreed in the tender terms.
4.
Achieving social responsibility: The government and pharmaceutical companies should adopt a social responsibility towards patients by providing these drugs and reducing their prices in the market to make them more accessible to patients while relieving part of the pressure and burden on hospitals.
Addressing the problem of drug shortages in government hospitals requires comprehensive cooperation between all concerned parties from government, Ministry of Health, hospitals, drug suppliers and patients.
To provide medicines on a permanent basis and to ensure the provision of high quality health care to the Jordanian patient.

The Ministry's 300 million dinar debt to pharmaceutical companies affects their liquidity and complicates supply.

Accurate budget preparation and fiscal reforms can help overcome medication shortages and alleviate pressure on healthcare workers.

Medication shortages outside hospitals threaten patient safety and increase costs.

Medication shortages require a multifaceted approach, including tracking tools, alternative medications, and financial management.

Caregivers can evaluate alternative medications during a shortage by consulting experts and checking their quality.

Caregivers can evaluate alternative medications through compounding pharmacies where pharmacists mix pure ingredients.

Title:

Content: 'Consumer-driven demand' drives shortage of children's pain, fever meds

Calgary parents are scrambling to find pain and fever meds for their children, but drugstore shelves have been in scant supply for a little over a month.

Mehgan Johnson says her baby daughter Joella became feverish after receiving routine vaccines in September.

"I went to our normal pharmacy and they had nothing. Then I went and checked out another one, and then I checked out Costco and then I realized, oh, there's a theme here. I can't find them anywhere," she said.

Children's Tylenol and Advil — made with acetaminophen and ibuprofen — are in short supply across Canada.

The products are dosed for small children to help manage pain and fever.

Johnson was able to find some liquid pain meds for her child from friends, but says the situation was scary for her as a new mom.

Another Calgary parent has also been unable to buy the over-the-counter drugs in recent weeks.

"Doctors recommend that if they're teething, give them Tylenol, and there's no Tylenol. Then it's tough to know how to make that pain go away for them," said Nicole Goss, mom of toddler Olivia.

DEMAND ISSUE, NOT SUPPLY

Tylenol producer Johnson & Johnson (J&J) sent CTV News a statement, which reads:

"We continue to experience increased consumer-driven demand with certain products and markets. We are taking all possible measures to ensure product availability."

A Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada spokesperson says demand is up 20-40 per cent from historic highs, while autumn's typical cold and flu season is also adding pressure.

The spokesperson says J&J and Haleon, which makes Advil, have begun ramping up production to meet the outsized demand.

COMPOUNDING PHARMACIES CAN HELP

Some Alberta pharmacies with an approved lab facility are able to compound children's pain meds by mixing pure acetaminophen and ibuprofen with a suspension fluid and flavouring.

It’s part of a short-term solution from the Alberta College of Pharmacy, which should cease when commercial products become available.

Pharmacists warn against makeshift medications made at home from available adult-dosed products.

"We want to be careful with dosing. Depending on the children's age and weight, there can be different dosing available for the child," said Randy Howden, pharmacist and owner of the Crowfoot Medicine Shoppe & Compounding Centre.

"The important piece is making sure we get the right dose and that we are doing something that’s going to be safe."

Howden says it’s unclear when Alberta pharmacies will be able to restock the shelves.

"Right now, our warehouse is telling us there's indeterminate availability or maybe in November we'll have some stock, but that could change day to day depending on a number of factors," he said.

He also recommends purchasing one item of compound medication at a time, as stockpiling could only make the problem worse.

Health Canada told CTV News earlier this week that it is in touch with manufacturers, pharmacists and provincial health leaders and is reviewing a request from a group of Conservative MP's to import foreign supply.

The FDA ensures pharmaceutical safety through post-market management, helping caregivers evaluate alternative medications.

Caregivers can consult healthcare professionals for advice on alternative medications.

Alternative medications can be as effective as the original, but caregivers should consult healthcare professionals to ensure quality and safety.

The Western Medicine Information Platform provides drug information for evaluating alternative medications.

Title:

Content: • En
Taiwan is in a shortage of drugs crisis? Pharmacists Association: Suspected Taiwan distributors have no way to buy false rumors out of stock
Pharmacogram.
(Photo / pixabay)
Respiratory diseases are prevalent in autumn and winter in China, and there is an outbreak of respiratory diseases with a variety of pathogens in China. The blue committee and local pharmacists are worried about the lack of drugs at the grassroots level and call for the establishment of a dedicated line to solve the problem.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said today (30) that it will work with large Chinese drug dealers in China to consolidate their drug inventory data, so that pharmacies and medical institutions can inquire about the drug inventory of Chinese drug dealers.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in response to the demand for infectious diseases in autumn and winter, the relevant drug permit holders were invited to pre-inventory and prepare the stocks of relevant drugs and raw materials, such as Amoxicillin, which currently uses about 5 million tablets per month. Pharmacy.
For the Amoxicillin / Clavulanate compound medicines, production and import has been gradually increased since the beginning of this year, and the Food and Drug Department has coordinated with the licensee to retain a certain proportion of the drug supply to the community pharmacies.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will continue to monitor the shortage of foreign drugs and the demand for domestic drugs, and actively monitor the supply of related drugs. To coordinate the supply of medicines at the pharmacy to facilitate the patient ’ s access to medicines.
On the recent media concern about the use of antibiotics for mold infection, the Food and Drug Administration said that according to the "Taiwan Pneumonia Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines" and "Children's Community Pneumonia Treatment Recommendations" and other domestic clinical guidelines, the first and second line drugs including Azithromycin, Doxycycline, Levofloxacin, Moxifloxacin, Minocycline and other oral drugs, are currently in are in and are in in in in in in and are in. These drugs are mainly used for infectious diseases, and must be prescribed by a doctor, and are often dispensed by medical institutions.
The Food and Drug Department has set up a dedicated team to handle the supply of medicines and has a “Western Medicine Information Platform ” for reporting to medical institutions and pharmacies.
Upon receiving the notification of drug shortage, the Food and Drug Administration will immediately investigate the supply status of the drug, coordinate the supplier ’ s supply of the drug to the notification organization, evaluate the alternative drug, etc., and publish the relevant information on the platform website for clinical reference.
In response to the news that Taiwan is facing a shortage of drugs, the Central News Agency quoted Huang Jinshun, president of the All-Federation of Pharmacists Association, as saying that more than 10 reports were received in the past two weeks, and there were suspected cases of people from mainland China and Taiwan businessmen going to the pharmacy to buy Rishu, saying that they wanted to send them to relatives and friends in China.
Huang Jinshun said that the Association of Pharmacists confirmed the inventory of pharmaceutical companies, taking RiShu adult oral tablets as an example, under normal use in Taiwan, the monthly use of only 200,000 to 300,000 tablets, and now there are 1 million in stock; children use the suspension type inventory of 150,000 bottles, the usual monthly use of 15,000 bottles to 30,000 bottles, there is no problem with safe inventory.
Updated: 2023-11-30 21: 51 GMT + 08: 00

Caregivers should consult healthcare professionals or use approved alternative medications instead of makeshift home remedies.

The FDA works with manufacturers to consolidate inventory data.

The FDA works with manufacturers to consolidate inventory data.