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Heartbreaking Disorders: Social Factors In Health Care

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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

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