US President Barack Obama has ordered the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to remedy the problem of drug shortages in the country.
Over the past year, the majority of hospitals in the US have been forced to delay life-saving treatments due to the shortages, which tend to affect cancer drugs and anaesthetics.
Go deeper with GlobalData
So far, at least 15 deaths have been blamed on the lack of medicines.
Obama signed the executive order on Monday instructing the FDA to take action to broaden its reporting of potential drug shortages, accelerate reviews of applications to change production of drugs facing potential shortages and give the Justice Department more information about possible instances of collusion or price gouging.
However, the administration said the steps won’t solve the problem as shortages have tripled in recent years and show no signs of slowing, reports the Associated Press.
See Also:
Around 178 shortages reported last year, and shortages of injectable drugs are becoming increasingly apparent, according to the FDA.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalDataThe FDA won’t "be able to prevent all future shortages," said Commissioner Margaret Hamburg. "But we can make a very real and meaningful difference by expanding our network of early warnings."
