The Ambulatory Surgery Center Association has announced its support for new legislation which would grant the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the ability to take steps to help prevent drug shortages, including propofol.
The bill — S. 296: Preserving Access to Life Saving Medication Act — was introduced by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). If passed, it would provide the FDA with tools to better manage and prevent shortages of critical medications, according to the ASCA. It would also increase the FDA's ability to monitor drugs that are vulnerable to shortages and enable the FDA to establish contingency plans in the event of manufacturing interruptions.
The ASCA sent a letter to Sen. Klobuchar stressing the negative implications of drug shortages on an ASC's operations and ability to perform procedures. The ASCA is asking surgery centers to contact their members of Congress and urge them to support the legislation.
Learn more about the bill and the ASCA's support of it by clicking here.
Read more on anesthesia:
- Anesthesiologist-Turned-Governor Declines Government-Subsidized Health Insurance
- Boston Medical Center Anesthesiologist Receives WHO Commendation for Pulse Oximetry Training Video