The Drug Shortage Crisis in America
February 13, 2012
Forbes
By Doug Schoen
Two Congressmen introduced bipartisan legislation to address prescription drug shortages last week. The Drug Shortage Prevention Act would create a ‘Critical Drug List’ that would identify drugs that are susceptible to shortage, and require the FDA to develop a system to notify the public if a medicine is added to the list.
The bill would also require the FDA to inform distributors of an upcoming shortage so they can prevent secondary buyers from trying to collect drugs and sell them on the ‘grey market’ for higher prices. Distributors would also be able to reallocate supplies to delay and ease the effects of a shortage. Read more