Much has been made recently of the growing problem of prescription drug shortages. This has become yet another thing for industry adversaries to criticize. But a new report (“Drug Shortages: A Closer Look at Products, Suppliers and Volume Volatility”) from the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics sheds light on the topic.
The issue of prescription drug shortages is primarily, and almost exclusively, limited to injectable generic medications. Of products that have had shortage issues, over 80 percent are generic injectables. Oncology products make up 16 percent of drugs with shortages (such as Johnson & Johnson's Doxil which has a waitlist of over 2,700 people). Most of the products that have shortages are manufactured by only 1 or 2 generic manufacturers.
Early warning systems, like the one IMS is advocating, will help predict these shortages in the future. Unfortunately, this won’t actually stop the shortages. It’s unfortunate that government policies have created this situation to begin with.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
TEDMED 2011
A few weeks back, I had the privilege to attend TEDMED 2011. TEDMED is an event like no other – the atmosphere was so rarified. In my 35+ years in the healthcare industry, this was the single best conference I’ve ever been to.
For me, I personally enjoyed Juan Enriquez’s (of Excel Venture Management) scathing indictment of the FDA. He asked the attendees to change the counting. In addition to counting how many people the FDA saves, we also need to count the number of people the FDA kills through their delays. And the number of “FDA kills” is probably as great or greater than the number of “FDA saves.”
I was also moved by the mushroom guy – Paul Stamets (of Fungi Perfecti). He is researching how certain mushrooms from old growth forests in the Pacific Northwest can treat cancer. I had no idea this research was going on.
The presentation by Lee Stein (Prize Capital LLC and Virtual Group LLC) about his son’s sky diving accident and subsequent MRI scans revealing a possibly fatal condition was moving. The way NYU was able to work with the MRI manufacturer to push the limits of research was noteworthy.
For those who haven’t been to TEDMED, it’s tough to explain how special it is – and it is special!! I absolutely can’t wait for TEDMED 2012 in Washington, DC.
For me, I personally enjoyed Juan Enriquez’s (of Excel Venture Management) scathing indictment of the FDA. He asked the attendees to change the counting. In addition to counting how many people the FDA saves, we also need to count the number of people the FDA kills through their delays. And the number of “FDA kills” is probably as great or greater than the number of “FDA saves.”
I was also moved by the mushroom guy – Paul Stamets (of Fungi Perfecti). He is researching how certain mushrooms from old growth forests in the Pacific Northwest can treat cancer. I had no idea this research was going on.
The presentation by Lee Stein (Prize Capital LLC and Virtual Group LLC) about his son’s sky diving accident and subsequent MRI scans revealing a possibly fatal condition was moving. The way NYU was able to work with the MRI manufacturer to push the limits of research was noteworthy.
For those who haven’t been to TEDMED, it’s tough to explain how special it is – and it is special!! I absolutely can’t wait for TEDMED 2012 in Washington, DC.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Surgeon General Regina Benjamin’s Diet
At TEDMED two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to have lunch with Surgeon General Regina Benjamin. It was eye opening, to say the least. Surgeon General Benjamin was pleasant, but didn’t exactly impress. My personal feeling is that she wasn’t the most qualified person for the Surgeon General role. That said, I would like her to succeed in her mission, but am skeptical she's up to the task.
Surgeon General Benjamin encouraged the TEDMED attendees to lead a healthier life and get out there and move around. But like most things with the White House – it was a do-as-mandate-not-as-I-do. I didn’t see Regina Benjamin at any of the TEDMED exercise opportunities such as the walks or yoga or in the gym at the Hotel del Coronado.
But my lunch with Regina Benjamin was eye opening. First Lady Michelle Obama recently launched the new Food Plate (i.e., the replacement to the food pyramid). But Michelle Obama should talk to Regina Benjamin because she didn’t get the memo – Regina Benjamin’s actual food plate looked more like Michael Moore’s than the new recommendations from Michelle Obama.
Of course, this is the White House where the President smokes and exposes his two daughters to second-hand smoke.
Public Health in the United States seems to be moving in the wrong direction. We need real public health leadership. Instead, we’re getting health tips from Aunt Jemima and the Marlboro Man.
Surgeon General Benjamin encouraged the TEDMED attendees to lead a healthier life and get out there and move around. But like most things with the White House – it was a do-as-mandate-not-as-I-do. I didn’t see Regina Benjamin at any of the TEDMED exercise opportunities such as the walks or yoga or in the gym at the Hotel del Coronado.
But my lunch with Regina Benjamin was eye opening. First Lady Michelle Obama recently launched the new Food Plate (i.e., the replacement to the food pyramid). But Michelle Obama should talk to Regina Benjamin because she didn’t get the memo – Regina Benjamin’s actual food plate looked more like Michael Moore’s than the new recommendations from Michelle Obama.
Of course, this is the White House where the President smokes and exposes his two daughters to second-hand smoke.
Public Health in the United States seems to be moving in the wrong direction. We need real public health leadership. Instead, we’re getting health tips from Aunt Jemima and the Marlboro Man.
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