Drug shortages can result from many reasons some of the reasons we have seen include Pandemics, Natural Disasters, Factory shutdowns due to regulatory compliance (self done or externally done), Site relocations, commercial changes / viability, delays in transport/logistics, API shortages.

The result of the shortage of a product does however result in potentially costlier substitutes and possibly less effective medications. The time spent by hospital pharmacies is many hours and may also require “over-labelling” of products and changes to protocols adding to the significant workload.

If hospitals can potentially predict and manage the drug shortage ahead of time this should mitigate the challenges and continue the patient care needed.