How to Prevent Shortages of Life-Saving Drugs
Solutions are on the horizon: a nonprofit company supplying hospitals, legislation to let government make some drugs, newly automated “continuous manufacturing.”
There's reason for hope.
Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg
American drug companies pride themselves on innovation, and much of today’s policy debate has focused on the high prices of the newest, patent-protected drugs. But older drugs were innovative once, and some — if available — still offer people with once-deadly diseases their best shot at life. That’s why efforts to make drugs more accessible have to address shortages as well as high prices. Some are.
Lifesaving cancer drugs or IV fluids can run short on a routine basis (as I explored in a previous column) and experts also say there’s no plan in place to deal with emergencies. Had the anthrax attacks that occurred in the wake of 9/11 been more extensive, as many feared, there would never have been enough of the recommended antibiotic, Cipro, to go around.