FDA itself largely responsible for US drug shortages; report

American patients and doctors currently confront an unprecedented shortage of critical drugs, which are causing inferior treatment regimens, interruptions in care, higher health care costs and even premature death. The drugs in shortage are mostly generic injectable medications, many of which have been on the market for decades.

Although the shortages have been attributed to a myriad of factors from a lack of raw materials to increased demand, information obtained by the US House of Representatives’ Committee on Oversight and Government Reform shows that the crisis was largely sparked by actions of the Food and Drug Administration.

Regulatory action shut down 30% of production capacity