Fighting Against Drug Shortages

Fellow Delawareans,

Can you imagine being on the operating table as your doctor realizes that he doesn’t have the anesthetic he needs to give you for your procedure? Can you imagine being a cancer patient and going to your doctor for an appointment, only to be told that the treatment you need is unavailable?

For thousands of people across the country, this is their reality.

Since 2005, the number of drug shortages in the United States has quadrupled. In 2011, there were more than 230 reported drug shortages, with oncology drugs, anesthetics, and nutrition medicines overwhelmingly affected by the shortages. This is a crisis, and I do not believe we have time to waste before tackling this problem.

That’s why I’ve crafted legislation that makes simple, yet fundamental changes to slow the tide of current shortages -- and prevent future ones. This week, I introduced the Drug Shortage Prevention Act with Representative Larry Bucshon, a Republican from Indiana, who was a heart surgeon before coming to Congress.

The Drug Shortage Prevention Act will help fix problems in the pharmaceutical supply chain and ensure that the FDA is taking necessary action to prevent drug shortage problems before they begin impacting patients. The FDA regulates the safety of our pharmaceutical industry and this legislation mandates expedited FDA review of drugs vulnerable to shortage. The legislation also requires streamlined communications between the FDA, manufacturers, distributors, providers, and patients to make sure action is being taken proactively to prevent shortages from occurring.

This legislation will not fix all of the problems related to drug shortages, but it is an important first step. My colleagues are also working to address other aspects of this crisis. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) is currently writing legislation to incentivize manufacturers to produce a larger quantity of drugs on the shortage list. In addition, Representative Elijah Cummings (D-MD) has been investigating the practice of price gouging, which drastically increases the cost of critical medications that patients need to stay alive and healthy.

Drug shortages in the United States affect people of all ages and backgrounds, with a wide range of illnesses and diseases. By working across the aisle and putting forward sensible legislation that addresses drug shortage problems early in the manufacturing process, I’m hopeful that more Americans will be able to access the drugs they need to live longer, healthier lives.


Sincerely,

John Carney