But it is becoming evident that these examples may not necessarily be exceptions in what is usually considered an efficient drug supply-demand pipeline. Specifically, physicians have been grappling with serious shortages of numerous drugs for several months, and the situation seems to be growing worse. The shortages cover a wide range of pharmaceuticals from anesthetics to vaccines to antibiotics. Some drugs are no longer being produced at all. Drug shortages are becoming more common, acknowledged Mark Goldberger, MD, who is involved in managing the shortages at the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Drugs.
Shortages affect the entire range of medical specialties.
And there are several complex reasons behind their occurrence, Dr. Goldberger said. Any production problems can rapidly lead to nationwide shortages. Firms may find some drugs less profitable to produce, particularly when their patents expire. A business decision may be made to stop manufacturing them. Increasing globalization has led to reliance on only one or two suppliers of raw materials, and any problems they experience can quickly lead to a shortage.