Social Factors Shortages of lifesaving drugs are highly charged social issue. Americans have a moral obligation to ensure a supply of crucial medications to our most vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly and oncology patients. Especially concerning are cases of oncology patients and neonates for whom equivalent alternative medications do not exist (Caulder, Mehta, Bookstaver, Sims, & Stevenson, 2015, p. 280). Authors McKeever, Bloch, and Bratic, (2013) recount heartbreaking instances where cancer patients suffered adverse outcomes. These authors explain, providers were forced to substitute less effective chemotherapy agents because the recommended medications were not available at the precise time patients needed them …show more content…
Specific struggles can occur as possible interventions to mitigate drug shortages are attempted. As discussed above, pharmaceutical manufacturers are private enterprises that are not obligated to manufacture any specific medication even if such medications are in short supply. Purchasing from foreign suppliers is a strategy distributors sometimes use to cope with drug shortages. Authors Dill and Ahn (2014) point out monitoring compliance of foreign suupliers is more challenging than monitoring and regulating facilities in one’s own country (2014). Another approach, used by some distributors, when medications are scare, is to turn to compounding facilities. According to Caulder, Mehta, Bookstaver, Sims, and Stevenson (2015) depending on compounding is a high risk practice. These authors explain that in some cases compounding practitioners do not have sufficient experience and contamination can occur (p. 180). Undoubtedly the most important goal is to avoid distribution of drugs that are contaminated. Using contaminated drug; and a subsequent recall, is the worst possible scenario for all …show more content…
A savvy politician can point out that the government has already engaged in a number of interventions aimed at mitigating drug shortages. As already mentioned above, there are laws in place that stipulate manufacturers report shortages or discontinuation of medically necessary drugs. Additionally, the Drug Task Force continues to strive to monitor and mitigate the ongoing drug shortages. Option two, expanding the scope of tax law 26 U.S.C.-41 rates the next highest. A politician will get support for this initiative by emphasizing that this option is an investment in the infrastructure of American manufacturing companies who are responsible for producing drugs that are currently in short supply. In making a political case for this option, it is imperative to point out that this is not a new tax law allowing most manufactures a tax break. Underscored instead, is the stipulation that the tax credit would only be granted in proportion to how much the manufacture did in fact alleviate a specific drug shortage. Option three, purchasing from foreign drug manufactures is regarded lowest politically. Proposals that involve less American jobs and increased dependence on foreign resources are not politically well
The prices of prescription drugs in the United States are by far the highest in the world. [1] On average, Europeans pay 40% less than Americans for the same medications. [2] Consumers have been resorting to several ways, sometimes putting themselves in harm’s way, to alleviate the burden of high prescription drug costs. Some buy their medications online or cross the borders to neighboring countries so they would be able to afford buying their needed medications. Others have resorted to the illegal act of selling their unused medications in online forums just to recover part of their expenses. Many factors contribute to the increased drug prices in the United States including research and
Consult www.phrma.org, The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. What steps is the branded industry taking to address the
Shortages of prescription drugs in the United States are a serious threat to our nation’s health and safety. At first blush, this problem appears fairly simple and straight forward to solve. In reality, there is a complex web of causation with a number of root causes contributing to drug shortages. The aim of this paper is to answer the question: How do we mitigate prescription drug shortages? This discussion is written from the standpoint of advising the current presidential administration how to address this crisis. This essay begins with a discussion regarding the background of the issue. Next, the landscape, including stakeholders in this matter is identified. Following, political, social, economic, and practical factors surrounding
medicine of cancer patients is robbed often by a friend or family member. Also, children of people who constantly seek medications learn from the parents. Therefore the future is in jeopardy. Children may grow up thinking that pill popping is the norm and may not understand the dangers of it.
We in America tend to take medications for almost any problem we have, from headaches to gastrointestinal pain, to more serious chronic disorders such as depression and attention deficit disorder. While many of the uses of such medications may be necessary and legitimate, many are not, and due to this fact, many people become dependent on medications, mentally, and or physically. This problem is not simply the fault of the individual; in fact, the blame can also be placed upon the medical community, and the pharmaceutical companies who produce the drugs. How often can one turn on the television to see advertisements for Claritin, Aspirin, Pepto-Bismol, or even Zoloft or Ritalin? The pharmaceutical industry is motivated by monetary
The National Institutes of Health found that “manufacturing problems and business decisions had caused twenty-three percent of drug shortages.” The FDA has currently listed sixty-two drugs undergoing a shortage. Forty-three of those are hospital injections for pediatrics.
Introduction: Since 2001, compounded drugs have caused more than 1,000 illnesses, and 87 deaths in the United States (cite 1). All of these unfortunate incidents were caused by errors during the manufacturing of compounded drugs, and in most cases, because of contamination. On the 25th of September 2013, the Drug Quality and Security Act, also known as H.R. 3204, was introduced, and three days later, was passed by the House of Representatives. On the 18th of November, this Act cleared the Senate. On the 27th of September, 2013, President Barack Obama signed the Drug Quality and Security Act into law (cite 2).
U. S. citizens pay the highest prescription drug prices in the world. This is an injustice that must be corrected. The "U.S. forbids the import of prescription drugs by anyone other than the original U.S. manufacturer, and even then only when the drugs meet all the approval requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)" (Barlett & Steele, 2004). Prescription drug prices are outrageously high in the United States because of the influence of advertising on consumer purchasing, the misleading statements by pharmaceutical companies about the cost of research and development of new drugs, the manipulation of patent laws, the antiquated laws regarding importation of
With soaring medication prices, many drug manufactures have the aspiration to increase profits, which have the effect of rising drugs cost and concerning for Americans. Fortunately, both Democrats and Republican have illustrated interest in passing Prescription Drug Affordability Act of 2015. Captivatingly, the act will allow Medicare to consult manufacturers and set affordable prices. Many have also requested to allow of purchasing medication from Canada which currently has lower drug cost. Reports often appear in the popular press about American consumers who go to Canada or Mexico to buy their prescription drugs at a fraction of what they would pay in U.S. pharmacies, even though doing so is illegal (1). By contrast, the United States leads
Effective medication helps with the rising cost of health care. When medication is working, the patient’s visits to the hospital and doctor’s office will decrease. The cost of new medication is exceeding the buyer’s ability to pay for it, and pharmaceutical companies begin to lose money when the drug loses its patent. However, generic drugs become available for the medication, and patients can afford to purchase it to treat their disease or condition. National discussions with providers, payers, and health policy makers have seriously considered various solutions for mitigating drug cost, with the ultimate goal of allowing patients to access appropriate and necessary treatments (Li & Shane, 2017). The government no longer has to decide who gets the medication, and certain therapies because of cost. Insurance companies will now cover the drug in its generic form. On the other hand, the pharmaceutical companies can no longer profit from and generic drug, and are forced to make new and improved drugs for profit. The patient will benefit by getting the medication that is needed to have a better quality of
People all over the world, continue to be tendered prescription medication, which in many cases further complicate health issues with its myriad of side effects. In fact, statistics have shown that approximately 100,000 people around the world die as a result of prescription drugs annually (Smith, 2012). On the contrary, according
This is obviously a huge topic in bioethics debates, especially recently after various changes in Federal Healthcare protocols. Some people depend on pharmaceuticals as a daily part of their routine, requiring some medicine or other for a condition or health issue. A prime example of this is the recent hike in the price of epinephrine shots, commonly known as the Epipen produced by Mylan Pharmaceuticals. This medication has seen a huge increase in pricing rising from roughly $50 in 2007 to over $600 this year. This is a shot used for common allergic reactions and therefore is used or carried by millions of people every day. The concern then is that pricing will get too high and patients will have to do without some medications leaving them vulnerable or even helpless in the face of certain conditions.
In the business of drug production over the years, there have been astronomical gains in the technology of pharmaceutical drugs. More and more drugs are being made for diseases and viruses each day, and there are many more drugs still undergoing research and testing. These "miracle" drugs are expensive, however, and many Americans cannot afford these prices.
There is also a slight issue between consumer and manufacturer as both are in dis-agreement of keeping up with cool chain requirements. This is an operational issue as from an employer and employee perspective their always needs to be a good relationship between manufacture and consumer as the pharmaceutical products needs to have high level in security measures and the manufacturer intrusts the consumer with his products. This is related to another issue found with theft in organisation MISHAIR.
The manufacture of medicinal products is subject to guidelines referred to as Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). These help to ensure the quality, potency and identity of the product throughout all stages of manufacture to maximize the safety and therapeutic value to the patient. However to reach the consumer, the product must be distributed. Distribution includes the supply, export and holding of medicinal products in an ever more intricate web of relationships. Therefore it is appropriate that in order to maintain the level of assurance attained in GMP; the distribution network must also have its own guidelines known as Good Distribution Practices (GDP).