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Israel Journal of Health Policy Research

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Open Access 01-12-2017 | Commentary

Resolving shortages of prescription drugs: the case for public-private collaboration

Author: Eric Efraim Katz

Published in: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research | Issue 1/2017

Abstract

The recent IJHPR article by Schwartzberg and colleagues presents new data on the growing problem of prescription drug shortages. Resolving shortages typically involves many participants: government, industry, physicians and healthcare facilities. Israel has a strong record of informal collaboration that can fix drug shortages quickly. The success of Israel’s informal collaborations, as well as its formal partnerships, deserves broader recognition at home and more attention from the international community.

Shortages result from any lack of availability, anywhere in the healthcare system. This may stem from actions of government (ordering a plant closure due to lapses in Good Manufacturing Practices), the drugmaker (profitability, or the need for plant capacity to make other products), to procurement-based (failure to order enough product to meet a spike in patient demand. http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2016/03/21/unpacking-drug-price-spikes-generics/

FDA recognizes the importance of working with industry on the matter. As one official in FDA’s Drug Shortage program phrased it, “Good agency-industry communication can facilitate resolution of a drug shortage.” https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/DrugShortages/ucm257746.htm

The FDA Safety and Innovation Act authorized regulations in the US Federal Register, published July 8, 2015. 80 FR 38915.

http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/35/5/798.abstract, doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2015.1157. Health Aff May 2016 vol. 35 no. 5 798-804.

Health Affairs blog piece, supra note 1 (http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2016/03/21/unpacking-drug-price-spikes-generics/)

http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2016/06/14/prescription-drug-shortages-data-limitations-in-an-era-of-big-data/

Schwartzberg E, Ainbinder D, Vishkauzan A, Gamzu R. Drug shortages in Israel: regulatory perspectives, challenges and solutions. Isr J Health Policy Res. 2017;6:17.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Title: Resolving shortages of prescription drugs: the case for public-private collaboration
Author: Eric Efraim Katz
Publication date: 01-12-2017
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Israel Journal of Health Policy Research / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 2045-4015
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13584-017-0152-5

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Resolving shortages of prescription drugs: the case for public-private collaboration

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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