Yes, we are facing drug shortages in the United States, the wealthiest country in the world. The result is that many Americans with cancer and other deadly diseases are not able to receive treatment, reports Christina Jewett for The New York Times. Three large corporate entities likely are responsible for the drug shortages but are not accountable.
There are literally hundreds of prescription and over-the-counter drugs that Americans cannot get, including drugs that treat strep throat, lung cancer, breast cancer and ovarian cancer. The drugs are generic, meaning that they generally do not command the prices that pharmaceutical companies charge for brand-name drugs. It seems likely that somehow the goal of maximizing profits is behind the generic drug shortage.
One possible immediate solution to the generic drug shortage would be for the US to open its borders to the importation of these drugs from verified pharmacies abroad. While today these imports are not legal, no one has ever been prosecuted for purchasing them for personal use. But, that solution does not appear on the table.
Instead, Congress is considering handing pharmaceutical companies more money through lower taxes as a carrot to manufacture the drugs we need. I would imagine that would only induce them to keep making limited supplies of generics so the tax benefits continue. Congress might be better off having government take control of the prescription drug supply-chain to ensure that supplies are adequate.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants the White House to focus on the economic challenges facing generic drug manufacturers. Today, almost all generic drug purchases come from just three entities. Those entities, such as Red Oak Sourcing and Clarus ONE, include big retailers such CVS Health and Walmart. You can bet they are doing what they can to maximize their profits.
One academic expert, Dr. Kevin Schulman, who teaches at Stanford Medicine, argues that these entities use their leverage to demand super low prices from the generic drug manufacturers. When the manufacturers don’t deliver, it’s not their problem. They are not accountable. Rather, they profit off of the brand-name drugs they sell, and it’s the patients who suffer because their generic drugs are not available.
One big manufacturer of generics, Akorn, closed down. It had made 100 generic drugs, including albuterol and a drug that treated lead poisoning.
There is at least one promising domestic solution, Civica Rx, a non-profit that manufactures prescription drugs, which you can read about on Just Care here. Civica was started to ensure a robust supply of critical generic drugs.
Here’s more from Just Care:
- Online pharmacies can save you money
- Whistleblower says CVS won’t cover some low-cost generics
- Millions safely import low-cost drugs from abroad
- California plans to produce generic drugs for its residents
- Don’t rely on Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs for the lowest prices
