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bjbjLULU JUDY WOODRUFF: Finally tonight, the growing concerns surrounding drug shortages
and the president's idea for tackling a part of the problem. NewsHour health correspondent
Betty Ann Bowser reported on the worries earlier this year, and she has our update. WOMAN:
In the next few days, it should be high enough for us to do the bone marrow. BETTY ANN BOWSER:
Across the country, doctors and patients are struggling to get their hands on some essential
prescription drugs in dangerously short supply. The list includes 178 drugs, antibiotics,
chemotherapy drugs used to kill cancers, and medicines that save lives in the emergency
room. Today, President Obama signed an executive order giving the Food and Drug Administration
more tools to police the problem. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: As part of this, we're going
to require that drug companies let us know earlier about the potential for drug shortages,
so that we can respond successfully. We're going to make sure that, if we find out that
prices are being driven up because shortages are being made worse by manipulations of companies
or distributors, that we are making sure that we stop those practices. BETTY ANN BOWSER:
The president also gave FDA and the Department of Justice more power to investigate the so-called
gray market, where unscrupulous suppliers buy up drugs in short supply and then charge
exorbitant prices. Most of the medicines in question are older generic products that are
not significantly profitable. A number of companies have dropped out of production,
and some still making them have run into manufacturing problems. That's left patients like Bruce
Blair having to make difficult choices. He got one round of a preferred drug earlier
this year, and then had to go to plan B when no more of it could be found. BRUCE BLAIR,
patient: There was actually some concerns as to what's going on. BETTY ANN BOWSER: Whether
it was working. BRUCE BLAIR: Whether it was working. And, actually, the other concern
that we were told is maybe the cancer is back. When you're going through this, that's kind
of the last thing that you actually want to hear, is that maybe the cancer is back. And
it really -- for that two-week period, it really kind of puts you a little bit on edge.
BETTY ANN BOWSER: Although Blair's doctors successfully treated him, it could have had
a different outcome. Are we talking about drugs that literally create a life-and-death
situation sometimes? CAPT. VALERIE JENSEN, Food and Drug Administration: Absolutely.
BETTY ANN BOWSER: Captain Valerie Jensen tracks shortages for the FDA. We talked to her earlier
this summer. Is this unprecedented? CAPT. VALERIE JENSEN: It is. When we look back at
the last six years, since we have tracked shortages, we have not seen these levels.
We have not seen anything near these levels. BETTY ANN BOWSER: Jensen told us that economics
played a clear role in the problem. CAPT. VALERIE JENSEN: These are not profitable drugs.
So, as newer drugs come off patent, often, those are picked up by firms. And they want
to make those drugs because they are more profitable. And these older sterile injectables
can get discontinued for that reason. BETTY ANN BOWSER: The Generic Pharmaceutical Association
released a statement pledging to work with "all stakeholders to ensure that lifesaving
generic medications are available for all patients who rely on them." The president's
action was the latest in a series of executive orders taken to circumvent the Congress, which
has refused to pass Mr. Obama's jobs bill and other legislation. The president also
said he supports a proposed bill that would require drugmakers to notify the FDA six months
before a potential shortage. BARACK OBAMA: We will still be calling on Congress to pass
a bipartisan bill that will provide additional tools to the FDA and others that can make
a difference. But, until they act, we will go ahead and move. BETTY ANN BOWSER: Today's
order is just the beginning of a process that could take months before patients are able
to get the drugs they need. Moreover, it may not solve some of the fundamental business
problems that led to the shortages in the first place. JUDY WOODRUFF: Finally tonight,
the growing concerns surrounding drug shortages and the president's idea for tackling a part
of the problem Normal Microsoft Office Word JUDY WOODRUFF: Finally tonight, the growing
concerns surrounding drug shortages and the president's idea for tackling a part of the
problem Title Microsoft Office Word Document MSWordDoc Word.Document.8