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Hospital Drug Shortages Deadly, Costly

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    Concern over severe shortage of drugs for chemotherapy, infections and other serious ailments

  • Duration 5:21
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Welcome back to on the -- here of foxnews.com live I'm Jonathan -- there is growing concern.

Among several medical professionals and also -- being -- rest.

About a shortage of -- hospital drugs we're joined now by Joseph -- who is director for federal legislative affairs of the American society of health system up pharmacists.

Joseph how bad.

How and how dangerous are these shortages.

Well from our members' perspective it's really a crisis our members are really having to scramble to find products to care for their patience and -- -- the other disturbing trend is that we're seeing a lot of these shortages in the areas of anti cancer drugs pain medications including anesthetics.

And nutritional products as well so what's the reason for the shortages.

Well from what we can tell large part of it is due to some quality issues in the manufacturing processes.

Keep in mind that.

The majority of these shortages are generic injectable so there are manufacturing process -- are quite complex so when a company.

Finds that product is being contaminated typically they shut down production of the product and hold shipment and we've seen a lot of these.

Quality issues over the last couple of years.

Now -- an Associated Press investigation.

Into this said that shortages were responsible for something like fifteen.

Patient deaths.

First of all is that an accurate figure from your research.

Well we actually haven't tracked all of the deaths associated with shortages but.

I think that's fairly consistent I believe we've heard that from some other entities as well.

-- and then under the second part of the Associated Press reporting which -- was extraordinary.

-- that they're finding that these distributors of these drugs are mocking them up sometimes eighteen times the normal price.

How long is that happening and is it true.

I'm from what we've heard from our members anecdotally yes some of them have been solicited by alternate suppliers or what some people refer to as the gray market and typically -- their products that are in short supply.

And they get facts or an email solicitation from -- suppliers.

They have the product and and that's correct sometimes it's it's extremely steep market okay so what's the solution at hand.

Well we're looking at several options there a couple of things that that we think we can do now number one is.

There are bill's bipartisan legislation in both houses of congress that would require drug manufacturers to report to FDA whenever they're experiencing a production problem.

It's sort of an early warning system and the reason we're very supportive of this approach is according to FDA's own account they were able to avoid 99.

Drug shortages in 2011.

So.

We feel that that's a very good start it's not a complete solution.

But it's a good start -- something we can do now I think that there are you know some other potential options we can pursue which include.

Are working with FDA to.

Expedite approval of products that are in short supply.

Looking at any kind of incentives for manufacturers to continue to produce a product or reenter the market.

Tax breaks reduced application fees that sort of thing.

I'm improving communication also -- -- offices within FDA and really making their process -- more efficient those are.

Probably some of the longer term solutions but we certainly believe that.

The early warning system -- something that we think we can do right now.

-- congressman Elijah Cummings the ranking Democrat on the house oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Seems to be leading the charge on this how closely are you working with congress.

I do actually we haven't worked that closely with congressman Cummings because He is really working on the the gray market type of issues and I believe that his committee.

Has set up a website for folks -- reports some of these solicitations if they feel that there.

Victim of unfair business practices and that's certainly something that down.

You were passing along to our members if they believe that.

You know they've been solicited or or price -- that that they -- reporter -- -- but right now were were working primarily with.

Members of that the house energy and commerce committee as well as members of the the senate help committee.

Now how concerned should somebody be if -- headed into that.

Hospital for some sort of surgery this weekend how concerned should they be about these drug shortages what are the chances that the drugs they need all going to be that.

Well certainly they should be in contact with that with their physician and and all of their caregivers.

It you know it it it.

We may be the case that you know their facility would have the products that that they need I mean certainly if if they don't I think -- my sense is that patients are are notified.

As far in advance as possible so we're just urging patients to to work with their physicians and their caregivers.

Okay Joseph -- director -- for -- federal legislative affairs at the American society of health system -- thank you very much for being with us today have a great weekend -- Great thank.

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