The problem of drug shortages has been reported worldwide, gaining prominence in multiple domains and several countries in recent years. The aim of the study was to analyze, characterise and assess this problem in Belgium and France, while also adopting a wider perspective from the European Union. A qualitative methodological approach was employed, including semi-structured interviews with the ...

The year 2012 was perceived by many stakeholders as the worst ever with respect to drug shortages in Canada. Following receipt of a warning letter 1 from the US Food and Drug Administration in November 2011, Novartis International AG, on behalf of its Canadian operations at Sandoz Canada, issued a customer letter 2 in mid-February 2012 indicating that the company's production capacity would be ...

A long time has passed since I last gave chemotherapy, but I have not been immune to the news about the drug shortages in the past few years. Therefore, I wanted to explore what was behind the headlines like “U.S. facing cancer drug shortage: Ariz. doctors rationing supplies; FDA allowing India imports” in the February 22nd Arizona Business News (Alltucker, 2012). You may have been more directl...

BACKGROUND Pharmaceutical drug shortages (DSs) are a global problem which presents challenges to countries around the world. Shortages of pharmaceutical products may have a direct detrimental impact on public health and patients' wellbeing by causing delayed, or even lack of, treatment. Moreover, DSs may force both patients and caregivers to use unfamiliar drugs, which could lead to medication ...

Drug companies may be required to report shortages sooner, but the FDA legislation still lacks power.