Drug Shortages Statistics

National Drug Shortages:
January 2001 to September 2024

Download Report

SUMMARY

• The number of active drug shortages is 277, down from an all-time high of 323.
• Fifty percent of active shortages have persisted for two or more years. Basic and life-saving products such as Rho(D) immune globulin, pain and sedation medications, and ADHD medications continue to be problematic.
• Health systems are facing significant shortages of IV fluids, irrigation fluids, and peritoneal dialysis fluids. Some of these shortages pre-date shortfalls caused by Hurricane Helene.
• While IV fluids are being allocated by manufacturers, inventory may not be available to health systems in a timely manner.
• Workload required to manage shortages, including work to change pharmacy automation and electronic health records, adds to the challenges of pharmacy staff shortages. 

Selected Links of Interest

• ASHP Fluid Shortage Recommendations
• Federal Policies to Address Persistent Generic Drug Shortages
• ASHP Drug Shortage Survey Report
• ASHP Policy Solutions to Address the Drug Shortage Crisis
• Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee (hearing)
• Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs (hearing and report)
  • https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/hearings/drug-shortage-health-and-national-security-risks-underlying-causes-and-needed-reforms/
  • https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/Drug-Shortages-HSGAC-Majority-Staff-Report-2023-03-22.pdf
• Building Resilience Into US Prescription Drug Supply Chains
• National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine to examine the security of America’s medical product supply chain
• Improving the Quality and Resilience of the United States Healthcare Supply Chain

For More Information

All data provided by the University of Utah Drug Information Service. ASHP and the University of Utah maintain a drug shortage database that tracks drug availability, including regional shortages, across the nation.

For more information, visit ashp.org/drug-shortages or contact:

Erin R. Fox, PharmD, MHA, BCPS
Associate Chief Pharmacy Officer - Shared Services University of Utah Drug Information Service
@foxerinr
linkedin.com/in/erin-r-fox-utah

Michael Ganio, PharmD, BCPS, FASHP
Senior Director, Pharmacy Practice and Quality
ASHP
linkedin.com/in/michaelganio

Please contact Dr. Fox for permission to reprint data.