Legislation Proposed to Resolve Anti-Infective Drug Deficits

By Milena Griffith, PharmD, BCPS

As we reported in Pulmonary Reviews Milena Griffith, PharmD, BCPS, from Midwestern University and Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, and colleagues wrote a review article published in the March Clinical Infectious Diseases about how anti-infective medication shortages can affect patient care and the measures the US government is taking to prevent deficits. Griffith elaborates on these issues in her commentary below. (You can also listen to her audiocast.) Please weigh in with your opinion on the topic in the comments.

The introduction of the HR 3839 Drug Shortage Prevention Act of 2012 marks the third legislative bill to be put before Congress regarding the issue of overall drug shortages. The large amount of attention that has been directed towards this topic is due to the increase in the number of shortages and the potential impact on patient care.