When President Obama signed an Executive Order directing the FDA to take action to help prevent drug shortages at the end of last month, PPC Executive Director Ann Woloson had the opportunity to weigh in on Smart Money’s consumer blog, Pay Dirt.

The number of reported prescription drug shortages in the US nearly tripled between 2005 and 2010, going from 61 to 178. While there are many valid causes for the shortages, including manufacturing, quality, and safety problems, they have meant some patients have had to curtail or forego treatment, or pay exorbitant prices for alternative drugs, because less expensive generics were unavailable. These high drugs costs highlight the importance of promoting the use of generic drugs and ensuring their availability. 

Obama directed the FDA to help prevent drug shortages, protect consumers, and prevent price gouging by broadening reporting of potential shortages and further expediting regulatory reviews that can help prevent or respond to shortages. The President’s order also directed the FDA to work with the Department of Justice, which will examine whether potential shortages have led to illegal price gouging or stockpiling.

When asked about the President’s order by Quentin Fottrell who writes Pay Dirt, PPC Executive Director Ann Woloson said with the increased reporting and as long consumers are protected as the FDA works to expedite approvals, it “could actually provide the mechanism needed to start getting the supply issue addressed.”

Read the full Pay Dirt blog entry.