Goodbye Old Paint

Experts blame the shortages on a number of factors, including market consolidation, production delays, unexpected increases in demand for a drug, and difficulties procuring raw materials. In some instances medications are in short supply because companies simply stopped making products that weren’t profitable enough. The shortages in less expensive generic drugs have forced some health care providers to buy more expensive products.

“It is unacceptable, that in the United States of America today you could be taking a life-saving drug one day and find out it is no longer available the next day,” said Sanders, a member of the Senate health committee. “Drug manufacturers need to keep the public informed when they know that a drug supply is running low so alternative measures may be taken long before someone’s health is in peril.”