| Product Availability/Drug Shortages |
Every sector of the healthcare
supply chain plays a critical role in ensuring products are continuously
available for patient care. While
manufacturers of pharmaceutical products play a crucial role in ensuring
adequate supply is produced, wholesalers, pharmacies, and hospitals
play an equally critical role in maintaining supply inventories to
meet the needs of the patient. Collaborative relationships must be
established in order to ensure a continuous supply of products without
any disruptions to patient care. As has been highlighted in media reports,
drug shortages have become a major issue of concern in the healthcare
industry as noted below:
- According to the American Society of Health System Pharmacists,
40 drugs or vaccines are currently unavailable or in short supply
(The Wall Street Journal, 2/15/02).
- According to Linda Tyler of the University of Utah drug-information
center, “Five or six years ago, there were 8–10 shortages a year.
Last year there were about 30. This year, we’ve had 40 new shortages.” (The
Wall Street Journal, 2/15/02).
- According to George Hartpence of the New Jersey Hospital Association,
it was uncommon to see more than one or two drugs on backorder in
the 80s and 90s, now it is not uncommon to see as many as four dozen
drug items on backorder (AP, 12/8/02).
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