Jul 22, 2024 - Health
Six straight quarters of drug shortages
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The number of active drug shortages fell to 300 in the second quarter of this year after hitting an all-time high of 323, according to a tracker from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.
Why it matters: It's the sixth straight quarter with at least 300 drugs on shortage, many of them critical to patient outcomes, the pharmacists' group said.
Zoom in: All categories of drug shortages have eased.
- However, essentials such as Rho(D) immune globulin and certain chemotherapy and pain and sedation drugs remain in short supply.
- Changes in Drug Enforcement Administration quotas and allocation practices established after opioid legal settlements have made shortages of controlled substances worse, the group said.
- Central nervous system agents including ADHD medications are still the category with the highest number of shortages.
