The Coming Drug Crisis

Not enough drugs. 2011 medication shortages set new record at 267 

The number of new prescription drug shortages in 2011 shot up to 267, well above the prior record and about four times the number of medication shortages in the middle of the last decade.

Figures just released by the University of Utah Drug Information Service, which tracks national drug shortages, show there were 56 more newly reported drug shortages in the U.S. last year than in 2010, when there were 211. By contrast, there were only 58 drug shortages reported in 2004.

There are only two likely explanations for insufficient drugs being manufactured and distrubuted:

• There is not enough profit to be made out of making the drug.
• Something is making the manufacture of the drugs more difficult than previously

The FDA says the main reason for the shortages is manufacturing deficiencies leading to production shutdowns. Other reasons include companies ending production of some drugs with tiny profit margins, consolidation in the generic drug industry and limited supplies of some ingredients.

They'll never accept any responsibility on their own behalf.