Drug Shortages

[LeftArm]

I see that drug shortages are back on the C+D web site again, lots of "bearing down" about to happen.
Are these shortages caused by unscrupulous pharmacies exporting stock for their own gain ahead of patient care?
Or are they caused by manufacturers withholding stock in order to prevent prices from falling in european countries (a supposed free market) and putting their own profits ahead of patient care?
I see it doesn't say stock shortages it says "supply issues".
Or is it something else?

[cadbury-king]

I see that drug shortages are back on the C+D web site again, lots of "bearing down" about to happen.
Are these shortages caused by unscrupulous pharmacies exporting stock for their own gain ahead of patient care?
Or are they caused by manufacturers withholding stock in order to prevent prices from falling in european countries (a supposed free market) and putting their own profits ahead of patient care?
I see it doesn't say stock shortages it says "supply issues".
Or is it something else?

Pharmacy has always had a scizopherinic identity on one side patient care on the other cold hard numbers and margins

if you ask me as unfortunate as it maybe, cold hard margins win every time...at the end of the day you cant blame manufacturers or pharmacies they need to make as much profit as possible inorder to pay salaries, rent, utilities etc and also they have a legal duty to there share holders.


So in brief

Profit and money much much more important than patient care...i now its not romantic or what is the right thing to say but reality speaks for itself

[crit care]

i wish i could bide my time during stock shortages and just wait for the drugs to come back in stock, instead of trying to source alternateive suppliers!!

[shonap87]

I did get asked once to call a supply line for an out of stock medication and give a fake Rx number to get drugs for a wholesaling order.

There is reality, and profit margins, but there is also a line not to be crossed.