The number of ongoing and active drug shortages in the U.S. stood at 323 during the fourth quarter of last year — the highest figure reached since such data began being tracked in 2001 — underscoring growing concerns about patient harm across the country.
Unresolved shortages have, in fact, been hovering above 300 for more than a year as numerous basic and life-saving medicines are in short supply. These include oxytocin, which is used during childbirth; Rho(D) immune globulin, which helps some women during pregnancy; standard-of-care chemotherapy, pain and sedation medicines; and ADHD pills.
The reasons are varied, although many remain a mystery. In 60% of the cases, it was unclear why a shortage existed or drug manufacturers simply failed to provide explanations, according to the University of Utah Drug Information Service, which tracks shortages and provided data published in a new bulletin by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.