Drug Shortages

Main Points

• Drug shortages are increasing in the United States — and patients are being harmed. The number of shortages nearly tripled between 2005 and 2010, going from 61 to 178.
  Not having the most effective drugs available can especially be serious for emergency patients.
• Ninety percent of hospitals experienced drug shortages in the last half of 2010, and 80 percent said the shortages had resulted in a delay or cancellation of a patient intervention.
• A robust investigation is needed to determine the root causes of the shortages. The GAO is conducting a study and will provide recommendations to alleviate shortages.
• Emergency physicians are dedicated specialists who mobilize resources to diagnose and treat ever kind of medical emergency.

Drug Shortages Fact Sheet