Bill Aims to Regulate Drug Wholesalers, Fix Shortages

To address wholesalers inflating the price of critical prescription drugs, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.) has proposed reforms to halt price-gouging and make the drug supply chain safer, according to a Bloomberg Businessweek report.

Rep. Cummings seeks to curb a disturbing upswing in medication shortages over the past several years. In some cases, physicians have to postpone chemotherapy and surgeries or provide less effective treatments, according to the report.

Rep. Cummings' bill would prohibit wholesalers from buying drugs from pharmacies and require them to list the selling price of critical drugs in short supply.

"Nobody should be allowed to engage in profiteering at the expense of children and adults with cancer or other critical illnesses by jacking up the price of drugs that are in critically short supply," Rep. Cummings said in a statement. "This bill closes down loopholes in the supply chain."

The FDA has also increased efforts to get manufactures to report impending drug shortages, which has helped curb drug shortages this year, according to the report.  

More Articles Related to Prescription Drug Shortages:

FDA Announces Fewer Drug Shortages This Year Compared to Last
Pharmacy Professionals Believe CMS Rules Contribute to Drug Shortages
Anesthesiologists See Sedative Shortage Nationwide

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