WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama on Monday pushed drugmakers and federal regulators to do more to address dangerous shortages of critical medicines, sidestepping a deadlocked Congress that has not moved legislation to help patients suffering from deadly illnesses.
In a limited executive order signed Monday, the president directed the Food and Drug Administration to press drug companies to more quickly report shortages to federal regulators, an early warning that advocates say can help mitigate problems.
“The shortage of prescription drugs drives up costs, leaves consumers vulnerable to price gouging and threatens our health and safety,” Obama said in a statement.
The White House action comes amid mounting alarm among physicians, patients and others about the rising unavailability of drugs to treat cancer, to control infections, to anesthetize patients before surgery, even to provide basic electrolytes to patients who need IV feeding.
There were 178 drug shortages reported to the FDA in 2010, according to the agency. And this year, federal regulators have seen a continuing surge in reported shortfalls.
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