STAT+: More hospital pharmacists are rationing drugs due to increasing shortages
One-third of hospital pharmacists say their institutions are rationing, delaying, or canceling treatments or procedures due to drug shortages.
Nearly every hospital pharmacy across the U.S. is experiencing shortages of prescription drugs. And the problem has become so bad – especially for chemotherapies — that one-third of hospital pharmacists reported their institutions are rationing, delaying, or canceling treatments or procedures, according to a new survey.
Specifically, 99% of hospitals pharmacists reported shortages, which is causing 85% to ration treatments and 84% to rely on different dosages. At the same time, more pharmacists are changing their purchasing practices, with nine out of 10 pivoting toward different vial sizes or concentrations, while 59% percent are buying more from compounding pharmacies.
Anemic supplies are also having a financial impact, with 73% of the 354 pharmacists involved in financial matters estimating budgets were expanding by anywhere from 6% to 20% as a result of shortages, according to the survey of more than 1,100 hospital pharmacists that was conducted in June and July by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.
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