US Drug Shortages In COVID-19 Era: A Domestic Problem With Domestic Solutions

Rather than rail at China, senators explored causes and corrective actions for drug shortages that are closer to home.

Capitol Building, Washington DC
need seen to strengthen domestic pharma market

In looking for answers to the problem of US drug shortages during the coronavirus pandemic, members of the Senate Finance Committee and the US Food and Drug Administration officials who testified at a recent committee hearing focused less on widespread concerns of vulnerability to China and more on how to fix persistent domestic market failures.

Much of the discussion at the 2 June hearing centered around the FDA’s analysis of the supply chain challenges around persistent shortages of essential medicines

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