There are currently 213 medications in short supply in the United States, most of them sterile injectables. This category includes drugs used for cancer treatment, anesthetics for surgery, antibiotics for infection, “crash cart” drugs used in emergency departments and others.
According to Premier Healthcare Alliance, a national watchdog group, shortages could cost hospitals at least $415 million a year over the next few years. Experts say the shortages have several causes, including temporary production halts at drug manufacturing plants when the FDA detects safety issues. Manufacturers also periodically face a lack of raw materials, and some companies have chosen to cease production of older medicines once patents expire.
In order to deal with drug shortages, hospitals like Cleveland Clinic are compounding products in anticipation for future surgeries. A shortage of drugs is forcing hospitals to be careful about treatments to ensure drugs are available when needed.
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