The FDA has scheduled a Nov. 27 public hearing in Washington, D.C., to discuss possible solutions to drug shortages affecting patients and hospitals nationwide.
The meeting will give healthcare providers, patients, drugmakers, pharmacists, pharmacy benefit managers, wholesalers and insurers, a platform to discuss systemic causes of shortages and offer solutions or prevention ideas.
Several discussion points for the meeting have been identified, including:
- The effect of drug shortages on patients, healthcare providers and the supply chain
- How data could more accurately capture the effects of drug shortages
- What factors affect the likelihood, severity and duration of drug shortages?
- Drugmakers' role in drug shortages
- How to avoid production slowdowns
- Would more money get to the root of the problem?
- What regulations can be implemented to limit drug shortages?
The agency planned the meeting in response to a request from Congress to find ways to resolve the shortages.