Senate committee, report examine growing drug shortages

New drug shortages increased nearly 30% last year to their highest level in almost five years, according to a report released last week by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for a hearing on the issue. The report calls for actions to prioritize approvals for critical drugs in shortage; invest in advanced manufacturing to produce critical drugs domestically; and better monitor supply chain vulnerabilities and anticipate possible shortages, among other recommendations. AHA staff and members were interviewed for the report.