U.S. Drug Shortages Put Lives at Risk: Report
Drug shortages for serious conditions has put patients’ lives and health at risk, according to a new report.
At least 15 people have died in the past 15 months due to shortages, the Associated Press reported, citing information gathered from industry reports
Among the reasons for the shortages were that the right drug was not available, dosing errors, or problems related to using alternative medication.
The drugs involved were “widely-used” generic injected drugs that are usually cheap.
The lack of drugs have delayed surgeries and cancer treatments.
The shortages have led to complications for patients and longer hospital stays as well.
Prices for the drugs have also increased as a result of shortages, a separate report stated in late August.
“Gray market distributors have jumped in with sometimes questionably obtained supplies that they attempt to sell to hospitals at exorbitant costs,” according by a study from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices.
The prices can be ten times or more than usual. The August study surveyed 549 hospitals