April 21, 2014

Dr. Robert Field, a professor with a joint appointment at the Drexel University School of Public Health and School of Law, coauthored an article in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy entitled “Impact of shortages of injectable oncology drugs on patient care.” The study shows how limited the effect of current efforts to remedy drug shortages have been. It suggests that a more aggressive government response to address underlying causes of the shortages is needed.

This article discusses the results of an online survey sent to all members of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists self-identified as directors of pharmacy regarding shortages of injectable oncology drugs in U.S. hospitals and health systems.

From this study, authors found that shortages of injectable oncology drugs appear to be widespread and to be having a significant impact on patient care, and that the currently available information about shortages does not meet administrative or clinical needs.

Co-authors of the article included colleagues from the John H. Ammon Medical Education Center, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, University of Pennsylvania, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and Fox Chase Cancer Center.