AHA, others call for comprehensive strategy to address critical drug shortages

Hurricane Maria and other recent natural disasters have heavily compromised pharmaceutical manufacturing in Puerto Rico, leaving the U.S. health care system “on the brink of a significant public health crisis,” the AHA, American Society of Anesthesiologists, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, and Institute for Safe Medication Practices told leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations today. “Of most immediate concern are the potential patient care implications of the shortage of small-volume parenteral solutions (SVPs), the organizations said. “Intermittent shortages of SVPs are emerging as a serious problem for hospitals, health care systems, and ambulatory care infusion centers….Beyond the immediate need to rectify the SVP emergency, Congress should examine how the pharmaceutical industry communicates information about what drugs are manufactured at which plants and where those plants are located. To date, no state or federal law requires that this information be disclosed. This lack of transparency puts health care systems at a significant disadvantage when trying to take a proactive approach to handling a potential drug shortage.”