The deficit of medications in the US has reached a record level, with 323 drugs in short supply in the first three months of 2024, according to data from the American Society of Health System Pharmacists and the University of Utah Drug Information Service.

The most worrisome shortages include sterile injectable generic drugs, such as cancer chemotherapy drugs and emergency drugs stored in hospital vans and procedural areas.

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.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pointed out that about 111 drugs are out of stock in the United States, including the heart disease drug digoxin injection, the chemical drug Dacarbazine, and some antibiotics.

The authorities say there are many reasons for the shortage, including production problems, quality problems, drugs, and even the suspension of production.

According to the FDA, about 80% of the manufacturers of active pharmaceutical ingredients are located overseas, and the manufacturers have provided the FDA with most of the drug shortage information.

Primary caretakers can find out if their parent's medications are affected by asking their practice pharmacist at their GP surgery about potential shortages and alternative options.

GPs and pharmacists are often aware of the current shortages and can provide guidance on alternative treatments, such as diet and lifestyle changes or other medicines.

For example, if there is a shortage of statins, a GP can recommend other ways of treating cholesterol.

It is essential for primary caretakers to stay informed about medication shortages, as they can have a significant impact on patients' health, particularly for those with conditions such as epilepsy.

Primary caretakers can prepare for potential medication shortages by calling around to different pharmacies to find available medications, rather than relying on a single source, which can help prevent hoarding and reduce the risk of widespread shortages.

Hoarding medications can lead to widespread shortages, and healthcare professionals advise against this practice, instead recommending that parents and caregivers explore alternative sources and options.

In the event of a medication shortage, parents and caregivers may need to find alternative medications or sources, and healthcare providers can assist with this process by calling pharmacies and searching for available options.

Primary caretakers can stay informed about medication shortages and updates on the availability of their parent's medications by checking with Health Canada for regular updates on the supply situation of certain medications.

Health Canada has issued a Public Advisory offering parents and caregivers advice and important safety information, which can be a valuable resource for primary caretakers.

To develop contingency plans for medication shortages, primary caretakers can adopt dedicated personnel and cross-departmental cooperation to prevent drug shortages in advance.

This approach includes strengthening cross-departmental data integration and proactive monitoring to detect drug shortage incidents at an early stage.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plays a crucial role in disseminating drug supply and alternative drug information through various channels, including the "Drug Supply Information Platform".

Medication shortages can have severe consequences for patients with specific conditions, such as epilepsy or cancer, as this can lead to delays in receiving necessary treatment or the unavailability of vital drugs, putting their lives at risk.

The lack of medicines entails additional economic costs for the health system and patients, with medical cases possibly being referred to other medical centers or private hospitals, increasing pressure on other budget items.

Primary caretakers can work with healthcare providers to mitigate these risks by communicating effectively about the patient's needs and the availability of alternative treatments.

Collaboration between healthcare providers and primary caretakers is essential to ensure that patients with specific conditions receive the necessary care and attention during medication shortages.

The deficit of medications in the US has reached a record level, with 323 drugs in short supply in the first three months of 2024, according to data from the American Society of Health System Pharmacists and the University of Utah Drug Information Service.

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

The most worrisome shortages include sterile injectable generic drugs, such as cancer chemotherapy drugs and emergency drugs stored in hospital vans and procedural areas.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pointed out that about 111 drugs are out of stock in the United States, including the heart disease drug digoxin injection, the chemical drug Dacarbazine, and some antibiotics.

Title:

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

Primary caretakers can find out if their parent's medications are affected by asking their practice pharmacist at their GP surgery about potential shortages and alternative options.

Title:

Content: Is a prostate issue to blame for my sexual problems after I started online dating aged 76 following divorce? Ask DR ELLIE CANNON

Q: I’m a healthy 76-year-old and I just started online dating after my divorce. However, during sex I struggle to maintain an erection. Also when I climax, I experience a pleasurable feeling but produce nothing. Should I be worried about my prostate?

Dr Ellie replies: Men often experience sexual problems later in life because of an enlarged prostate or its treatment. The prostate is a small gland at the base of the bladder around the tube that carries the urine out. It is often described as being the size of a walnut, but as men age, it can become much larger than this.

Regular exercise, quitting smoking and cutting down on alcohol have all been shown to help combat erectile dysfunction

Of course, men can also get prostate cancer. An enlarged prostate will make it more difficult to urinate, due to the proximity of the prostate to the bladder, and trigger sexual problems.

These issues are typically erectile dysfunction and difficulty ejaculating. There are treatments which can combat an enlarged prostate, but it’s important to know that these too can lead to sexual problems.

READ MORE: DR ELLIE CANNON: Are the drugs I'm taking to blame for my hip pain?

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One commonly used medication for prostate problems is called finasteride, a daily tablet which can make it easier to pee.

However, more than one in 100 men who take it will have problems getting an erection and or problems ejaculating.

Men who don’t respond to medication are often offered a transurethral resection of the prostate – known as a TURP – which involves cutting away sections of the prostate.

It is thought that as many as three-quarters of men who receive a TURP will have difficulty ejaculating due to damage to the nerves and muscles in the prostate region.

Likewise, surgery to remove the prostate often leads to dry orgasms – where nothing comes out – as the gland is involved in the production of semen.

There are things you can do yourself to reduce the severity of your symptoms.

Regular exercise, quitting smoking and cutting down on alcohol have all been shown to help combat erectile dysfunction.

If the problem continues – or gets worse – then you should talk to your GP about treatment.

Q: I’m a woman in my late 70s. In 2018 I was prescribed alendronic acid after I had a fall and fractured my wrist. I have heard that you should take a break from this medication after five years but my GP says I should stay on it. I also requested another bone density scan but she said I didn’t need one. Is this correct?

Dr Ellie replies: Alendronic acid is the medication we most commonly use for the bone-thinning condition osteoporosis, and it is usually safe to take long-term.

It is taken as a weekly tablet or drink and reduces the risk of further breaks. Our bones are constantly being broken down and rebuilt by specially adapted cells within them. Osteoporosis occurs when there is too much bone breakdown happening which causes them to weaken. Alendronic acid slows down this process. Usually after five years on the treatment you would have a review of your medication to decide if you still require it. This would often involve a bone density scan, also known as a Dexa scan. A patient may stay on the medication for another five years or take a ‘treatment holiday’ and come off it for a few years.

Alendronic acid does have some common side-effects including constipation, dizziness and headaches

Alendronic acid does have some common side-effects including constipation, dizziness and headaches.

If the treatment is causing too many problems, or is failing to keep the osteoporosis under control, patients might be offered a new drug. However, it is hard to make this decision without a further Dexa scan.

The Royal Osteoporosis Society offers excellent support – you can speak with one of their specialist nurses on 0808 800 0035. After this, it would be worth requesting a conversation with the GP to establish why your medication is being continued.

Q: My GP advised I take statins, but ten days after I began the pills I developed serious pins and needles in my feet and hands. I immediately stopped taking the drug, but two months later, the pins and needles have turned into a painful stabbing sensation all over my body. My feet feel like they are burning.

Despite this, my GP refuses to see me for an appointment because he says it is a matter for a pharmacist. What should I do?

Dr Ellie replies: This is not the standard of care someone should be receiving from an NHS GP. Anyone with new symptoms or potential medication side-effects should be offered an appointment.

It might be worth looking into registering at a new practice, so you can get easier access to a doctor. Pins and needles are an uncommon side-effect of statins. The fact the sensation has continued after you stopped taking the pills could suggest it is unrelated. A feeling of electric shocks or burning, particularly in the feet, can be a condition called peripheral neuropathy where the nerves are not working properly. Peripheral neuropathy is often triggered by a vitamin B12 deficiency, and can be reversed. This is why it is crucial that you see a doctor.

If it is the statins, a GP can recommend other ways of treating cholesterol such as diet and lifestyle changes, or other medicines.

DRUG SHORTAGES PUT PATIENTS AT RISK

Medicine shortages are worse than ever, and are now affecting people’s health, according to a new report.

Supply problems have doubled since 2020, the Nuffield Trust think-tank found. GPs and pharmacists deal with this daily.

I do not recall shortages like this even being an issue

ten years ago.

Medicines for epilepsy are often in short supply. Without these, seizures are more likely and can be catastrophic. And I know parents who drive to many pharmacies to find ADHD drugs for their children.

If you have a practice pharmacist at your GP surgery, try to ask them if there are shortages of your prescription drugs, and whether alternatives can be had.

Doctors tend not to know what is and isn’t available.

Are you struggling to get hold of vital medication? Write and let me know.

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Back pain sufferers are being fobbed off

Latest figures suggest a staggering 2.8 million Britons are ‘economically inactive’ due to ill health.

That’s double the number of ten years ago — and includes a rise of almost three-quarters of a million since the pandemic. This is probably because getting treatment for even serious problems is so difficult now.

Mental illness and respiratory diseases top the list of reasons for going long-term sick. The other most common is ‘musculoskeletal problems’, often back trouble. But back pain can be resolved quickly with advice, exercise and a physiotherapy assessment.

It frustrates me that, even if I refer my patients for the latter, it’s just not available — they’re fobbed off with phone appointments and leaflets. Have you struggled to get help with your back pain? Write and let me know.

Do you have a question for Dr Ellie Cannon? Email DrEllie@mailonsunday.co.uk

Dr Cannon cannot enter into personal correspondence and her replies should be taken in a general context.

GPs and pharmacists are often aware of the current shortages and can provide guidance on alternative treatments, such as diet and lifestyle changes or other medicines.

For example, if there is a shortage of statins, a GP can recommend other ways of treating cholesterol.

It is essential for primary caretakers to stay informed about medication shortages, as they can have a significant impact on patients' health, particularly for those with conditions such as epilepsy.

Primary caretakers can prepare for potential medication shortages by calling around to different pharmacies to find available medications, rather than relying on a single source, which can help prevent hoarding and reduce the risk of widespread shortages.

Title:

Content: Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
19° Partly Cloudy
News >  Nation/World

Parents looking for children’s Tylenol, ibuprofen find empty shelves

Dec. 1, 2022 Updated Thu., Dec. 1, 2022 at 9:17 p.m.

By Jenna Portnoy, Daniel Gilbert, Ellie Silverman and Katie Shepherd Washington Post

People seeking over-the-counter medication for their sick children are often finding sparse or empty shelves, as a spike in respiratory illnesses pushes pediatricians and emergency rooms to the limit.

Usual supplies of fever- and pain-reducing medicines, such as liquid acetaminophen and ibuprofen recommended for children with RSV, flu or the coronavirus, have not kept up with demand in recent weeks in pockets of the country hit hardest by surging illnesses.

Unlike in Canada where the government has issued emergency orders to address a shortage of acetaminophen and ibuprofen, commonly known by the name brands Tylenol and Advil, and similar products, U.S. manufacturers and retailers emphasized that supplies should rebound within weeks. On the prescription side, increased demand for the antibiotic amoxicillin has caused shortages in the United States, Canada and parts of Europe.

In the meantime, pediatricians say they worry limited access to medicines could result in more urgent-care and emergency visits as parents struggle to keep sick children comfortable.

“It’s a huge problem,” said Kristina Powell, a pediatrician in Williamsburg, Virgina, and president of the Virginia chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “This is a result of the ‘triple-demic.’ Parents run to Walmart or Target, the shelves are empty. … This is going to be a long fall and winter of viral infections.”

A crop of influenza-like illnesses, which includes RSV, hit the South and Southeast hard a month ago, federal data show, and those illnesses have slowly progressed westward. By mid-November, Texas, New Mexico and Tennessee reported the highest incidence of illness, while levels remained very high in Virginia and D.C., followed closely by Maryland, according to data tracked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Kylie Moriarty, 30, of Buffalo, Misssouri, searched her local Walmart for Tylenol or ibuprofen to treat her sick 9-year-old daughter and found nothing but empty shelves. That seemed odd, she said, because just last week she had no trouble buying the same products for her 2-year-old son in a merry-go-round of illnesses affecting families with young children.

“I was very frustrated that it’s 2022 and we can’t keep something in stock for parents to help their children get better,” she said in a phone interview. “It makes me want to cry, almost, because these are my kids.”

She and her husband called other pharmacies looking for medicines to soothe the girl and couldn’t find any guaranteed availability.

“When they’re sick, there’s only so much that loving on them and cuddling with them you can do. So when there’s no medicine or something that you can give them … it’s hard,” Moriarty said.

Feeling powerless, the couple gave up and cautiously shared their younger child’s more concentrated medicine with the older one, which seemed to help. Just as they began to relax, their little boy came home from day care with a fever. Moriarty plans to schedule an appointment with his pediatrician for treatment – and samples to take home.

The ordeal reminded her of the height of the pandemic when supply chain problems left consumers scrambling for toilet paper and other basics.

Generic varieties play a large role in the market for over-the-counter comfort drugs, and that industry runs on profit margins so lean that companies typically lack capacity to boost production on short notice, according to supply chain experts. That left shelves bare during the early days of the pandemic.

The same dynamic is playing out now as RSV, flu and the coronavirus hit simultaneously, prompting sporadic shortages of commonly used ibuprofen and Tylenol at some hospitals and retail stores.

The extent of those shortages isn’t clear. The Food and Drug Administration hasn’t reported any shortages of fever or pain medications. Drugmakers, pharmacists and industry organizations say there aren’t any constraints to manufacturing and expect supplies to rebound within weeks.

The University of Utah’s Drug Information Service, which tracks drug shortages, received its first report of a shortage of liquid ibuprofen – generally for children – on Monday, and quickly confirmed it with several manufacturers. Most of the drugs tracked by the service are purchased in large quantities by hospitals, but some formulations had over-the-counter labels. Erin Fox, the service’s director, said it was impossible to know how widespread retail shortages were given the variety of store-branded versions.

“There are definitely distribution and supply chain problems that still exist,” she said, such as a company not being able to hire enough drivers. “These shortages seem to be mostly a demand spike and should resolve relatively quickly,” she added.

Until then, both chain stores and independent pharmacies are dealing with the unpredictability of high demand and uncertain supplies.

Martin McCarthy struck out at 5 p.m. Wednesday when he stopped by Brookville Pharmacy in Chevy Chase, Maryland, looking for liquid Motrin for his 10-year-old son, who probably picked up a bug at school.

The pharmacy’s stock of children’s fever reducers was depleted after two busy weeks of parents and grandparents stopping in to buy Tylenol or Motrin for little ones suffering from colds, RSV, flu and other viruses.

By Wednesday evening, only three boxes of generic ibuprofen chewables, two boxes of generic acetaminophen chewables and six boxes of suppository acetaminophen remained. Other parents peeked down the aisle looking for liquid fever reducer and fever reducer for children younger than 3, only to leave empty-handed.

McCarthy scanned the cold-medicine aisle for a few minutes and called home to confirm that his son would tolerate grape-flavored chewable tablets instead of the liquid Motrin he was used to.

“It is surprising because it’s basically completely out,” he said. “And it’s just generic.”

A spokeswoman for Walgreens said McCarthy’s experience is typical. Even if their usual choice of medication is unavailable because of high demand, parents can usually find an alternative.

“Although demand for pediatric OTC medications have increased, Walgreens is prepared and able to continue meeting the needs of our customers and patients. We are working with our diverse set of suppliers and distributors to ensure our patients have the products they need most,” Walgreen spokeswoman Zoe Krey said in a statement.

Martha Welman, a pediatrician and medical director at Neighborhood Health, a primary care provider serving low-income and underinsured patients in Alexandria, Arlington and Fairfax, said staff will sometimes call pharmacies to find medicines for patients – a time-consuming process at a busy time.

“If it’s between helping someone find a medicine or seeing a sick child, we have to make that choice. We’re all kind of compromising right now,” she said.

Perrigo, an Ireland-based manufacturer of over-the-counter products, said “shortages are occurring in a number of markets we supply” because of high demand. The company has increased production of medications for fever and pain by 46% through October compared with a year ago, and increased shipments by a similar rate.

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association, which represents companies making over-the-counter drugs, said parts of the country are seeing a rise in pediatric illnesses but that there aren’t “overall widespread shortages here in the United States” of children’s pain relievers.

“We understand it might be frustrating for some parents who are unable to quickly locate these products from their usual pharmacy or retailer due to limited out-of-stocks in some stores,” the association said in a statement, but it emphasized the importance of calling around for medications and not hoarding, which could lead to widespread shortages.

Elizabeth Murray, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester, New York, said from the bed shortage to overflowing emergency rooms, the last thing parents need is another hurdle. But until the early and aggressive onset of respiratory illness abates, health care providers and parents have no choice but to ride it out together.

“Everyone would like to have one thing to blame and there isn’t one thing to blame,” she said. “This is happening for a variety of reasons and we’re going to move through it and we’re going to be OK.”

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Hoarding medications can lead to widespread shortages, and healthcare professionals advise against this practice, instead recommending that parents and caregivers explore alternative sources and options.

In the event of a medication shortage, parents and caregivers may need to find alternative medications or sources, and healthcare providers can assist with this process by calling pharmacies and searching for available options.

Primary caretakers can stay informed about medication shortages and updates on the availability of their parent's medications by checking with Health Canada for regular updates on the supply situation of certain medications.

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Update on Supply of Children's Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen Products

·2 min read

OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 7, 2022 /CNW/ - We share the concerns of many parents and caregivers about their inability to find pediatric/infant and children's acetaminophen and ibuprofen products, and we understand the worries associated with this. Since the start of the shortage, we have been working to take actions to ensure that parents and caregivers have what they need to take care of children.

Over the summer months, there was unprecedented demand for these products and supply had not kept pace. We are working hand-in-hand with manufacturers and suppliers to keep increasing supply to meet consumer demand and to ensure that parents and caregivers have access to these important products.

Over the last few months, Health Canada has been in direct contact with manufacturers of pediatric/infant and children's acetaminophen and ibuprofen products, provinces and territories, children's hospitals, the Canadian Pharmacists Association, the Canadian Pediatric Society, and the Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada to assess needs and avenues to expand supply, and to identify and implement shortage mitigation measures.

Minister Duclos has also personally spoken to several manufacturers, including Johnson & Johnson, Haleon and PharmaScience, to reiterate the urgent need to collaborate to find immediate solutions to this shortage so that parents and caregivers can have the medicines they need to take care of their children.

As manufacturers continue to ramp up production, with some producing products at record levels, additional supply has been made available. Additionally, companies who supply Canada have been provided pathways to import foreign products, and we are reaching out to additional suppliers. While supply is increasing, we expect that products will continue to be intermittently available in retail locations. As we work to get these medicines to all who need it, children's hospitals remain a particular area of focus for replenishment.

Health Canada has issued a Public Advisory offering parents and caregivers advice and important safety information. You may also speak to a healthcare professional or pharmacist about your infant or child's needs as they can help you identify what products are effective and needed, as well as offer options for safe alternative.

As the health of infants and children remains our top priority, all options to solve this shortage are on the table. Health Canada will provide regular updates on the supply situation of children's acetaminophen and ibuprofen products in Canada.

SOURCE Health Canada

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2022/07/c4554.html

Health Canada has issued a Public Advisory offering parents and caregivers advice and important safety information, which can be a valuable resource for primary caretakers.

To develop contingency plans for medication shortages, primary caretakers can adopt dedicated personnel and cross-departmental cooperation to prevent drug shortages in advance.

Title:

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

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plays a crucial role in disseminating drug supply and alternative drug information through various channels, including the "Drug Supply Information Platform".

Medication shortages can have severe consequences for patients with specific conditions, such as epilepsy or cancer, as this can lead to delays in receiving necessary treatment or the unavailability of vital drugs, putting their lives at risk.

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 lack of medicines entails additional economic costs for the health system and patients, with medical cases possibly being referred to other medical centers or private hospitals, increasing pressure on other budget items.

Primary caretakers can work with healthcare providers to mitigate these risks by communicating effectively about the patient's needs and the availability of alternative treatments.

Collaboration between healthcare providers and primary caretakers is essential to ensure that patients with specific conditions receive the necessary care and attention during medication shortages.