Drug shortages become the 'new normal' for pharmacy managers
As drug shortages become more frequent and severe, providers are feeling the financial impact of the higher-priced alternatives and the personnel hours required to deal with the escalating problem.
At Shands Healthcare in Gainesville, Fla., Mary Selzo, RPh, coordinator of pharmacy automation and technology, says the health system is now buying common drugs through a third party vendor at high markups because they cannot acquire them through direct channels.
The cost is enormous. For example, Selzo says she used to buy morphine for 99 cents per dose and is now spending $4.75 for the same amount. Fentanyl, a popular pain medication, has shot up in price from 31 cents per vial to $4.65.
“We don’t balk at the price,” said Selzo. “We normally would split hairs, but now we have no choice.”
Another major expense is the labor involved with managing the shortages.
“I can’t tell you the labor hours involved,” said Selzo. “It’s a labor drain.”
The pharmacy staff spends hours each day searching for products in different forms or doses.
“You can look for an injectable form or a syrup to treat the same condition that you would usually use a pill for,” said Selzo. “We spend hours every day chasing products.”
“We aren’t compromising quality, but it’s an expense thing,” she added. “We haven’t up to this point had to do anything dramatic or make a decision that comprises patient care. The worst case scenario is to not have enough doses.”
President Barack Obama issued an executive order on Oct. 31 to reduce drug shortages, instructing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to implement several measures to improve communication regarding shortages and to expedite the development of new suppliers and manufacturing sites.
But Selzo believes the executive order will not have a positive impact on drug shortages.
“I anticipate having to continue to deal with shortages," she said. "But, we’re better prepared and it’s become a part of our daily practice. It’s the new normal.”
[See also: Drug shortages costly to hospitals and patients]
