A survey has revealed that shortage of medicines is compelling hospitals across the America to shutdown some chemotherapy drugs as well as critical care drugs.
The survey, titled as 'Impact of Drug Shortages on U.S. Health Systems', was conducted by American Hospital Association. As per the data eighty percent cases are being delayed and seventy percent patients are not receiving effective alternate medicine.
Total 820 hospitals participated in survey. The survey was conducted to convince parliament for legislative solution. Another survey, by ASHSP, assumed that shortage is costing about $216 millions per year to cop up the additional labor cost.
These drugs are mostly generic version of brand drug. Because these drugs are used in critical treatment, FDA requires them to be manufactured with stringent precautions (safety guideline for plants). This causes some companies to shutdown manufacturing plants as the plants were found incompatible with guidelines issued by FDA. Other companies are unable to bridge the gap and shortages occur.
FDA has officially reported 175-180 cases of drug shortage in 2010. Number for 2011 is not known, yet it is believed to be higher than 2010 and increasing rapidly.
Shortages are for antibiotics amoxil, drugs used in chemotherapy and nutritional supplements. Most of the drugs injections. Shortages are also there for medicines used in emergency or in intensive-care units. But shortages of antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs are sever as it may cause death.
Shortages are felt for other drugs also. 90% hospitals are facing shortage for anesthetics and drugs used in emergency. 271 hospitals reported for chemotherapy. More than 50% hospitals are facing 21 types of drug shortages.
The pharmacists' survey showed the biggest shortage in 2010 involved the drug succinylcholine, used in procedures to insert a tube into patients' airways to help them breathe.
ASHSP survey denoted succinylcholine drugs on the top of the shortage medicine of year 2010. Succinycholine drugs are used when a tube is inserted in patients' airways for easy breathing.
Survey link
The survey, titled as 'Impact of Drug Shortages on U.S. Health Systems', was conducted by American Hospital Association. As per the data eighty percent cases are being delayed and seventy percent patients are not receiving effective alternate medicine.
Total 820 hospitals participated in survey. The survey was conducted to convince parliament for legislative solution. Another survey, by ASHSP, assumed that shortage is costing about $216 millions per year to cop up the additional labor cost.
These drugs are mostly generic version of brand drug. Because these drugs are used in critical treatment, FDA requires them to be manufactured with stringent precautions (safety guideline for plants). This causes some companies to shutdown manufacturing plants as the plants were found incompatible with guidelines issued by FDA. Other companies are unable to bridge the gap and shortages occur.
FDA has officially reported 175-180 cases of drug shortage in 2010. Number for 2011 is not known, yet it is believed to be higher than 2010 and increasing rapidly.
Shortages are for antibiotics amoxil, drugs used in chemotherapy and nutritional supplements. Most of the drugs injections. Shortages are also there for medicines used in emergency or in intensive-care units. But shortages of antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs are sever as it may cause death.
Shortages are felt for other drugs also. 90% hospitals are facing shortage for anesthetics and drugs used in emergency. 271 hospitals reported for chemotherapy. More than 50% hospitals are facing 21 types of drug shortages.
The pharmacists' survey showed the biggest shortage in 2010 involved the drug succinylcholine, used in procedures to insert a tube into patients' airways to help them breathe.
ASHSP survey denoted succinylcholine drugs on the top of the shortage medicine of year 2010. Succinycholine drugs are used when a tube is inserted in patients' airways for easy breathing.
Survey link
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