Factors Involved in U.S. Generic Drug Shortages

Generic drug shortages have strained an already-burdened healthcare system. Unfortunately, drug shortages can ultimately lead to adverse patient outcomes and an extreme increase in the costs of addressing them. Healthcare professionals, especially pharmacists, are consistently tasked with the management of this public-health crisis. In order to appropriately address the problem, researchers have attempted to explore the root causes of generic drug shortages. Studies suggest that drug shortages are ultimately due to a broad range of factors. However, the most likely causes of generic drug shortages are economic and regulatory in nature.