Source:
USA TodayPresident Obama signed an executive order instructing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take actions to help reduce prescription-drug shortages.
There have been more than 200 prescription-drug shortages reported so far this year, the FDA says. The most common shortages have involved cancer drugs, anesthetics used for patients undergoing surgery, as well as drugs for emergency medicine and electrolytes needed for patients on IV feeding.
"We have also seen shortages of injectable drugs used for blood pressure and shortages involving Adderall extended-release capsules used for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder," FDA spokeswoman Shelly Burgess said.
Doctors, hospitals, pharmacists and patients are struggling with the problem that has caused them to delay treatment, postpone surgery or make do with costlier and less-effective substitutes. Fifteen deaths have been blamed on shortages.
Read more:
http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/healthcare/story/2011-11-01/Obama-acts-to-reduce-prescription-drug-shortages/51023354/1
Well, I'm going with hope, and hoping this is good news.
:hi: