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During the past quarter of a century I've experienced shortages of medications and medical supplies but the shortages we've experienced this past year have been the worst I've ever witnessed. Critical supplies and medications that physicians and patients rely on have been unavailable for several months now. This has affected the majority of patients in my practice. There is a shortage of stimulant medications for ADD/ADHD management. Antibiotics, blood pressure medication, diabetes medication, even medications to treat cancer have been unavailable. We've had extreme difficulty obtaining lidocaine to perform our office procedures.
News reports have offered a variety of reasons for the shortages: a shortage of raw materials required to manufacture medications, increased consumer demand for medications, overprescribing or utilization by healthcare providers, even labor shortages affecting production and distribution to retailers. As time goes on I find the reasons that have been made public less and less believable. One thing I've noticed is the disproportionate amount of generic medications and supplies that remain unavailable while pharmaceutical companies continue to manufacture and distribute their expensive name brand products without difficulty.
It's time to take an honest look at the problem and hold those responsible accountable. I don't believe the shortages will resolve until American patients and consumers demand honesty from the news media, big pharma and our government.
News reports have offered a variety of reasons for the shortages: a shortage of raw materials required to manufacture medications, increased consumer demand for medications, overprescribing or utilization by healthcare providers, even labor shortages affecting production and distribution to retailers. As time goes on I find the reasons that have been made public less and less believable. One thing I've noticed is the disproportionate amount of generic medications and supplies that remain unavailable while pharmaceutical companies continue to manufacture and distribute their expensive name brand products without difficulty.
It's time to take an honest look at the problem and hold those responsible accountable. I don't believe the shortages will resolve until American patients and consumers demand honesty from the news media, big pharma and our government.
