APs
HERKIMER, NY — U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer visited Herkimer to discuss solutions to the prescription drug shortage.
The senator said prescription drug shortages increased 30% from 2021 to 2022.
US Senator Chuck Schumer visited Herkimer to discuss solutions to the prescription drug shortage.
“U.S. drug shortages reached near-record highs earlier this year, Schumer said. There are 301 acute shortages, which is the largest.” Like many health care providers across the country, Schumer said doctors and pharmacists across central and upstate New York were impacted by these drug shortages. He said he was feeling it and was making it harder to protect his patients from its effects. He is limited to one class of drugs, and more classes of drugs are affected by the day,” the release reads.
Schumer is calling on the Food and Drug Administration and Congress to take action.
The plan is to maximize imports of prescription drugs from other countries, get manufacturing plants up and running as soon as possible, and pass legislative changes.
The plan includes having pharmaceutical companies notify when drug shortages become significant, introducing safety standards and encouraging domestic manufacturing.
“We’re making sure manufacturers are producing enough drugs at capacity, and we’re keeping reserves and contingency supplies in place,” Schumer said. “We want to cut production to the very last minute so that we can produce enough for the market.” That way if another order comes in or something happens they don’t even have the medicine. “
Schumer hopes to get the bill into law by the fall.
“U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today called on Congress to address the problem with a new four-point legislative solution, while curbing the worst supply shortages to date and helping the Mohican population grow. We urged the FDA to continue its efforts to protect patients and physicians “all over the Valley and upstate New York,” the release reads.
“This drug shortage problem has created additional work for limited pharmacy resources in upstate New York, with pharmacists identifying (and often anticipating) potential shortages and finding appropriate treatments for patients. We need to be proactive in determining drug equivalents and alternatives,” the release concludes.
