Question 1

What is a drug shortage?

Accepted Answer

A drug shortage happens when the supply of a medicine is not enough to meet the current or expected demand, which can affect essential drugs such as antibiotics, blood pressure medications, cancer therapies, or GLP-1s used for diabetes and weight management.

Question 2

What are the main causes of drug shortages?

Accepted Answer

The reasons for drug shortages include manufacturing problems, quality control failures, lack of raw materials or active ingredients, sudden spikes in demand, disruptions in the global supply chain, and even business decisions by manufacturers to stop producing less profitable medicines.

Question 3

How do drug shortages impact patient care?

Accepted Answer

Medicine shortages can delay treatment, force patients to use less effective or more expensive alternatives, cause setbacks in the management of chronic diseases like hypertension or diabetes, and create emotional stress as patients lose confidence in their progress.

Question 4

Which medicines are most commonly in shortage?

Accepted Answer

In recent years, some of the most affected medicines have been everyday essentials such as antihypertensives, antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, and GLP-1 medications, making the impact on patient care especially widespread.

Question 5

How do pharmacists handle medicine shortages on a daily basis?

Accepted Answer

Pharmacists often spend hours checking supplier websites for stock updates, contacting wholesalers and other pharmacies to secure supplies, working with prescribers to adjust treatment when possible, and counseling patients on alternatives, turning routine care into crisis management.

Reasons for drug shortages

Behind Every Drug Shortage Is a Patient Struggling to Stay Healthy