Health
Tornado at Pfizer Warehouse Likely to Worsen Shortage of Surgical Drugs
Why It Matters: Some of these medicine are not widely produced.
The U.S. Pharmacopeia, a nonprofit that examines the drug supply chain, took a close look at the likely effect of the tornado damage. The nonprofit assigns “vulnerability scores” to medications, accounting for factors linked to shortages, like low prices, quality problems at production sites and the number of companies that make the drug.
The painkiller infusions had a high vulnerability score, as did I.V. electrolytes like potassium chloride and magnesium sulfate that are made at the plant and listed by Pfizer as potentially affected by the tornado. These medications help patients with severe dehydration or diabetes complications, among other conditions.
One unexpected upside to the deepening shortages of some medications is that, under federal rules, specialized pharmacies are allowed to make the drugs on an emergency basis. That policy “will come in handy at a time like this when you have an unexpected shock to the system,” said Vimala Raghavendran, a shortage expert at the U.S. Pharmacopeia.
Last Time This Happened: Cancer drug shortage threatened patient care.
This disaster struck as the last drug shortage crisis began to ease. For weeks this spring and summer, doctors were running out of two inexpensive, generic chemotherapy drugs that are the best shot at a cure for patients with testicular, ovarian and other cancers.
Doctors predicted heightened death rates as patients arrived for treatment only to discover they would not be getting the most potent drug in the combination used to treat them. The Food and Drug Administration has since begun to allow shipments of the drugs from China that were not expressly approved for the United States market.
Now, “it seems better,” Dr. Lucio Gordan, president of Florida Cancer Specialists, said in an email on Tuesday, noting that his centers have a month’s supply of the drugs, which are called cisplatin and carboplatin.
What We Don’t Know: Will Congress or the White House act?
Medication shortages are not new. But the cancer drug crisis started a widespread conversation about its root causes and solutions. Some proposals have come from Medicare, which unveiled a plan to incentivize hospitals to stockpile essential drugs. A key Senate health committee advanced a pandemic-funding bill that would give the F.D.A. more data to head off shortages.
Leaders in the generic drug industry and other experts cite the pressure from intermediary companies that award the lowest-price bidder with access to millions of customers. The “race to the bottom” in prices, they say, destabilizes the industry and rewards those who might cut corners or operate overseas, often in India, where labor costs are lowest. House Republicans have been examining some of those dynamics but have not issued proposals.
Health
7 important health stories you might have missed this week: Catch up here
Every day of the week, Fox News Digital publishes a range of health pieces to keep you up-to-date on the most important wellness news.
We cover cutting-edge medical research, breakthrough medications, mental health challenges, personal medical dramas and more.
In case you missed them, here are a few of our biggest health stories from this week.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
You can see a full list of recent health pieces at http://www.foxnews/health.
1. Hunger could be tied to sleep, expert says
If you’re feeling hungrier than usual lately, your sleep routine could be the culprit. A nutritional biologist offers tips for regulating sleep and curbing unhealthy cravings. Click here to get the story.
2. Health agencies issue bird flu update: ‘Alert, not alarmed’
The CDC and WebMD teamed up this week to deliver an hour-long update on Thursday about the current bird flu outbreak. Fox News Digital breaks down the most important points. Click here to get the story.
3. Melanoma patients share their stories
For Skin Cancer Awareness Month, two melanoma patients are speaking up about their symptoms, treatment and prevention tips to help others avoid the potentially deadly disease. Click here to get the story.
4. Report reveals staggering discrepancy in health care costs
Patients with private health insurance could be charged up to 300% more than those with Medicare, a new report reveals. Doctors explain the reasons for the sticker shock. Click here to get the story.
5. Pastor shares important message about depression
A Dallas pastor who fought his own depression battle shares how he overcame the disease – and why it’s so important for those in church leadership to seek help when they need it. Click here to get the story.
6. Nurse’s depression is cured through breakthrough tech
A Chicago nurse struggled with COVID-19-related PTSD and depression for years until electrical brain tapping therapy finally gave her a new lease on life. Click here to get the story.
7. Young vaper shares warning after nearly dying
A 22-year-old man in Nebraska required a double lung transplant due to vaping. Jackson Allard shares his story as a cautionary tale. “I had a 1% chance to live,” he said. Click here to get the story.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.
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Introducing Our Product Reviews Team, and How We Review | Woman's World
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What You Should Know About the Military Diet: Experts Weigh In | Woman's World
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