NPR Series Investigates Impact of Medication Shortages

NPR's "Morning Edition" on July 8 reports on shortages in medications for common conditions in the first of a two-part series. Last year there were nationwide shortages of at least 73 drugs, including tetanus, rubella and mumps vaccines, anesthetics, steroid injections and heart medications. The NPR segment examines the experiences of Morehead Memorial Hospital in Eden, N.C., where pharmacy managers note that having "everyday, inexpensive" drugs on backorder leaves patients "vulnerable" and with "no real reserve to fall back on." Drug shortages are mostly caused by hospitals' inventory reductions to manage costs, not by FDA enforcement actions or low manufacturers' supply, NPR reports. Children's National Medical Center Pharmacy Manager Scott Mark said that most hospitals have moved to "just in time" inventory systems, which requires keeping no more than minimum medication levels in stock. The second segment in the series, which airs July 9, will examine how drug shortages can lead to alleged price gouging. The full segment will be available online in RealPlayer Audio after noon ET (Neel, "Morning Edition," NPR, 7/8).