ASA Sends Letter to FDA on Drug Shortages

As a follow up to a meeting with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in late May, ASA sent a letter to the FDA that discusses the extent of anesthesia drug shortages and offers some recommendations on actions the FDA can take to help reduce drug shortages. In the letter, authored by ASA Vice President of Scientific Affairs Arnold J. Berry, M.D., ASA reports the results of the recent drug shortage survey of ASA members. In that survey, 90.4% of respondents reported they were currently experiencing an anesthesia drug shortage and 98.1% of respondents reported experiencing a shortage of at least one anesthesia drug in the last year. 
 
ASA recommends in the letter that the FDA pursue six different actions that could help alleviate drug shortages.

The FDA has agreed to host a hearing on drug shortages after Senator Blumenthal sent a letter requesting an FDA hearing. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has also agreed to start an investigation into drug shortages at the urging of Senators Blumenthal, Casey and Harkin.

ASA is continuing to work with all stakeholders to alleviate drug shortages.

Click here to read the letter ASA sent to the FDA.