National Drug Shortages:
January 2001 to June 2024
SUMMARY
- The number of active drug shortages is 300, down from an all-time high of 323. Ongoing and active shortages have been at 300 or higher for the past 18 months.
- All categories slightly improved since last quarter, however basic and life-saving products are in short supply, including Rho(D) immune globulin, standard of care chemotherapy, pain and sedation medications, and ADHD medications.
- New DEA quota changes, along with allocation practices established after opioid legal settlements, are exacerbating shortages of controlled substances (12% of all active shortages).
- Workload required to manage shortages, including work to change pharmacy automation and electronic health records, adds to the challenges of pharmacy staff shortages.
Selected Links of Interest
- Federal Policies to Address Persistent Generic Drug Shortages
- ASHP Drug Shortage Survey Report
- ASHP Policy Solutions to Address the Drug Shortage Crisis
- Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee (hearing)
- Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs (hearing and report)
- Building Resilience Into US Prescription Drug Supply Chains
- National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine to examine the security of America’s medical product supply chain
- Improving the Quality and Resilience of the United States Healthcare Supply Chain
For More Information
All data provided by the University of Utah Drug Information Service. ASHP and the University of Utah maintain a drug shortage database that tracks drug availability, including regional shortages, across the nation. For more information, visit ashp.org/drug-shortages or contact:
Erin R. Fox, PharmD, MHA, BCPS
Associate Chief Pharmacy Officer - Shared Services University of Utah Drug Information Service
@foxerinr
linkedin.com/in/erin-r-fox-utah
Michael Ganio, PharmD, BCPS, FASHP
Senior Director, Pharmacy Practice and Quality
ASHP
linkedin.com/in/michaelganio
Please contact Dr. Fox for permission to reprint data.
