Thursday, January 31, 2013

Obamacare's first catastrophe: drug shortages


Obamacare’s first catastrophe: Drug shortages

 

Prescription drug shortages have become evident throughout the country, in every major pharmaceutical category, over the last two years. Concurrent with the initiation of Obamacare Hospitals and clinics have reported major scarcities in an array of drugs, which is presently reaching a critical point. People who are victims of cancer have found that needed chemotherapies have dwindled to a point where they are unavailable in many locales. One report noted that drugs for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma are becoming so scarce physicians are forced to withhold therapies from some. Emergency medical teams, in many jurisdictions, have resorted to using outdated drugs for lack of availability of a fresh supply.  Intensive care units are are unable to obtain there full complement of cardiology therapies from manufacturers. Pediatric vaccines are not finding their way into physicians’ offices to fulfill demand. Deficits in anesthetic supplies have delayed many surgeries. The dearth of injectable drugs is the most profound of the scarcities. Some pharmaceutical representatives state that manufacturing capacity has been reduced do to permanent facility closings and or to address quality issues in these production centers. Others note raw materials are not in abundant supply. In January 2013 many have gone to their local pharmacies to find price increases in their usual medications, some as high as 400 percent. Those in the know believe the heavy hand of government has triggered these shortages. FDA officials have been oppressive in their enforcement efforts against pharmaceutical manufacturers causing plants to bring production to a virtual standstill or even close. New financial burdens created by Obamacare and the slow thinkers in Washington have made the end-product, medications, much less profitable to produce. With less profit there will be reduced availability of a product or service, basic capitalism 101, something the creators of Obamacare forgot. Government officials claim they are trying to reduce the burden on manufacturers with easing up on some regulations, better communications with suppliers, quickening the pace of certain drug approvals and attempting to provide a cooperative effort between regulators and the private sector. In the event you live in the Obama fantasy world and accept the government’s explanation for the shortages so be it. Democrats have been pointing their fingers in a number of directions to blame anyone but themselves for these shortages. With the full implementation of Obamacare eleven months in the future, the problems embedded in this article will become more intense as the months move forward. Death is too high a price to pay for the President’s experiment in socialized medicine. Unfortunately, it is very likely that many will perish from the lack therapies available, the very promise made by the President would not happen under his ill-conceived health program. Mark Davis, MD, platomd@gmail.com www.healthnetsreviewservices.com

Author of the forthcoming book, Obamacare: Dead on Arrival, A Presciption for Disaster.

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