😷💊🚑 Da Kine Meds Running Low, Broke Da Bank: How Can Get?
K-den, we stay in one plenny big pilikia – da kine meds stay running low, and choke peopo no can get what dey need. Da guys at da top, from Congress to da White House, dey trying fo’ figure out how fo’ help, but da trouble stay deep, brah. 🏛️💡💼
Get choke patients who need da kine treatments fo’ cancer and odda buggah diseases, but da meds no stay. Ho, da hospitals looking every wea fo’ find da stuffs like what helps with lead poisoning or da kine fluid dat make da heart stop fo’ bypass surgery. 👨⚕️❤️🏥
Try look da list of da meds we stay running out of, brah, choke um. Da kine supply chain all buss up, so stuffs like antibiotics still hard fo’ find, even afta da flu season pau. Try find choke Children’s Tylenol too, no can! 📜💊😨
But check dis out, da situation stay so bad dat da big guys stay getting involved. Da White House and Congress trying fo’ figure out why da generic drug market all kapakahi. Most of our meds come from da generic guys, you know? 🔎🧪🇺🇸
Da Biden guys, dey got one team looking fo’ ways fo’ fix da drug supply chain. We stay depending on India and China fo’ plenty meds and ingredients, brah. Lately, had generic drug guys, supply-chain experts, and patient advocates talking story with lawmakers about all da pilikia. 🌏💼💊
Da cancer meds, dey stay running real low, and das causing choke worry. Dey looking at how dis affects everybody and how many different chemo drugs stay running out. Da kine situation stay like one public health emergency, brah. 🚨💔😷
Da American Cancer Society wen say dat da shortages can make da cancer patients’ situation more pilikia. If da meds not there, da patients going get less good care, and das da hard truth, brah. Dese meds, dey da first ones doctors try fo’ use. Dey trying fo’ make peopo well, yeah? 🏥💔👨⚕️
Had one guy, Ryan Dwars, he wen beat pancreatic cancer in 2021, but then his doctor wen tell him had cancer on top his liver. He stay hoping fo’ finish his last four doses of chemo in April, but da doctor wen tell him no can, brah. His situation so close to getting better but now get one roadblock. 🥺👨👩👧👦💉
Dere’s one wahine, Laura Bray, she work fo’ help patients find da kine hard-to-get meds. She wen ask if we going do what we gotta do fo’ fix da situation. We gotta try end da problem, not just try make um less bad, she say. Can do um, but gotta really try. 👩💼💡🙏
Fo’ help Mr. Dwars, Ms. Bray wen contact da company dat make his chemo drug. She got some sent fo’ him and others at his hospital. But odda patients across da country no been as lucky, dey had to wait long time between treatments. Da White House team working on this issue get choke different peopo – security guys, economy guys, health guys. Dey thinking about tax breaks for generic drug makers and more open info about da quality of da drugs. Da current way, da drug makers who make um cheapest, even if dey cut corners, get da business. But if da FDA say dey gotta fix something, can cause da place to shut down, brah. 😱💵💉
Da FDA, dey get one small team for work on top da drug shortages. Dey looking for permission from Congress fo’ get more info about how da drugs made and how dey get to us. But da FDA stay worried about da money troubles in da generic drug industry, too. Dey say dey no can fix dat kind of problem. 💰👩⚕️🏛️
Da FDA commissioner, one Dr. Robert Califf, he say to Congress dat dey can only do so much. Dey gotta fix da money part if dey gonna make tings right. Another guy, David Gaugh, who stay da head guy for one group dat represents generic drug makers, he warn da FDA dat more drug companies could go out of business, just like Akorn Pharmaceuticals. He say da problem gonna get worse, not better, real soon. 😔📉🔧
Akorn was making about 100 different meds, including one for help kids with breathing problems. Dey was da only ones making an antidote to lead poisoning. But den, all of a sudden, dey wen shut down. Was one big shock, brah. And no mo’ anybody left fo’ deal with potential quality issues, so all their stuffs had to be pulled. 💨💊💔
Dr. Tichy, one guy who works with da supply chain at da Mayo Clinic, he say, “Health is so foundational to our country functioning well. And then we have a domestic manufacturer that just goes under and there’s not a lot of action.” He right, brah. We gotta take care each odda. 🤝🏥🇺🇸
Dere’s four bills in da Senate right now dat could help get generic drugs to market more quick. Dey trying fo’ fix da stuffs dat make da process take long time. But still, da price for generic drugs has gone down by half since 2016. Dis guy, Anthony Sardella, he say dis at one House hearing. “But there is a high cost to low prices,” he say. If da price too low, da quality can suffer. 💵💊👨⚕️
And look at Intas Pharmaceuticals in India. Dey make three important chemo drugs dat stay hard fo’ find. But dey had to stop making dem when da FDA found serious quality-control violations. 🛑💉🇮🇳
When da FDA inspectors wen go check out da Intas place, dey find choke bags full of torn and shredded documents. One quality-control worker even wen pour acid on top da torn records and put um inside one rubbish bag. Ho, da kind stuffs dey found, brah. 📝🔍💔
But da US distributor for Intas, one company called Accord Pharmaceuticals, dey say some of da drugs were tested by one third party, certified and released to da US market. Da treatments Ms. Bray arranged fo’ da patients in Iowa were among dem. Dey working with da FDA fo’ start making da drugs again for US customers. 🇺🇸💊💪
Da Society of Gynecologic Oncology, dey wen send out one survey fo’ da whole country. Get doctors from 35 states say dey get little to no supply of da most important chemo drugs, even at da big cancer centers and teaching hospitals. 😷🏥📝
One doc, Dr. Patrick Timmins, he say his practice ran out of some chemo drugs on May 9, but still get 25 patients who need ’em. “Our patients are in a war, and what we’re doing is we’re taking their weapons away,” Dr. Timmins wen say. “It’s completely ridiculous that we can’t figure out a way, at least in the short run, to get our patients treated, and in the long run to solve these recurring problems.” 🤒💉💔
When Ms. Bray wen meet with da White House staff in late April, she say she recommended creating one exchange, for get drugs where dey needed most, and increase da production of small-batch medicines. 🏛️📋💊
Dr. Kevin Schulman, one professor at Stanford Medicine, he say he had urged da White House team to look at how much power the intermediary companies get in dealing with generic drug makers. He say they demand da cheapest prices, but dey not accountable when shortages come up. 🏥💵🤷♂️
Dr. Schulman say he recommended da government work more with the nonprofit Civica, which sells generic drugs at slightly higher prices, can help generic makers stay in business. 🏛️💉💰
“The intermediaries are driving people out of the market,” Dr. Schulman say. “I think it’s a market problem and we need market-level solutions.” 😤💰🔍
Da struggle is real, brah. But we gotta malama each odda, work togedda, and fix dis problem. We all one ohana, yeah? Da kuleana is ours. And we can, and we will, pūpūkahi i holomua. Together, we move forward. 🤝🏝️💖
NOW IN ENGLISH
😷💊🚑 U.S. Facing a Severe Shortage of Essential Medications
The United States is in the midst of a serious crisis – critical medications are in short supply, and many people can’t access what they need. Top officials, from Congress to the White House, are attempting to find solutions, but the problems are deeply rooted. 🏛️💡💼
Countless patients requiring treatments for conditions like cancer and various diseases are being affected by the shortage. Hospitals are desperately seeking essential drugs like antidotes for lead poisoning or the kind of fluid used to halt the heart during bypass surgery. 👨⚕️❤️🏥
The list of medications that are in short supply is extensive. The supply chain is so disrupted that antibiotics are still difficult to find, even after the end of the flu season. Even over-the-counter drugs like Children’s Tylenol are scarce. 📜💊😨
In response to this dire situation, the highest levels of government are intervening. The White House and Congress are trying to understand the issues with the generic drug market, where most of our medications come from. 🔎🧪🇺🇸
The Biden administration has assembled a team to address the drug supply chain problems. The U.S. heavily depends on India and China for many medications and ingredients. Recently, generic drug manufacturers, supply-chain experts, and patient advocates have been consulting with lawmakers about these challenges. 🌏💼💊
The scarcity of cancer medications is particularly alarming and being closely monitored. The situation is so critical that it’s considered a public health emergency. 🚨💔😷
The American Cancer Society has expressed concern that these shortages could worsen the situations of cancer patients. If the drugs aren’t available, patient care will be negatively affected. These drugs are usually the first choice of treatment doctors try to use. They are essential to patients’ recovery. 🏥💔👨⚕️
One patient, Ryan Dwars, who overcame pancreatic cancer in 2021, was later diagnosed with liver cancer. He was hoping to complete his final four chemo doses in April, but was told it wasn’t possible due to shortages. This has brought a significant hurdle to his path to recovery. 🥺👨👩👧👦💉
Laura Bray, a woman who assists patients in finding scarce medications, posed the question of whether we’re willing to do what it takes to truly solve the issue. According to her, it’s crucial to aim to end the problem, not merely alleviate it. 👩💼💡🙏
To aid Mr. Dwars, Ms. Bray contacted the manufacturer of his chemo drug. She managed to secure some for him and others at his hospital. However, other patients across the country haven’t been as fortunate, having to endure long waits between treatments. The White House team tasked with this issue comprises experts from various fields – security, economy, and health. They’re considering tax incentives for generic drug manufacturers and more transparency regarding drug quality. Currently, manufacturers who produce the cheapest drugs often secure contracts, even if quality is compromised. 😱💵💉
The FDA has a small team dedicated to dealing with drug shortages. They’re seeking authorization from Congress to gather more information about the production and distribution processes. However, the FDA has expressed concern over the financial issues plaguing the generic drug industry and admitted they’re unable to resolve such problems. 💰👩⚕️🏛️
FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf testified to Congress that the agency can only do so much. The financial issues must be resolved to rectify the situation. David Gaugh, who represents generic drug makers, warned the FDA that more drug companies could collapse, just like Akorn Pharmaceuticals, predicting that the situation could worsen rapidly. 😔📉🔧
Akorn produced about 100 different medications, including one for children with breathing difficulties. They were the only ones producing an antidote for lead poisoning. But suddenly, they went out of business. This abrupt closure was shocking and, without any company to manage potential quality issues, all their products had to be withdrawn. 💨💊💔
Dr. Tichy, who works with the supply chain at the Mayo Clinic, said, “Health is so foundational to our country functioning well. And then we have a domestic manufacturer that just goes under and there’s not a lot of action.” He’s right – we need to take care of each other. 🤝🏥🇺🇸
There are currently four bills in the Senate that could expedite the introduction of generic drugs to the market. They aim to streamline processes that currently cause delays. However, since 2016, the price of generic drugs has halved. Anthony Sardella made a point of noting this during a House hearing, warning, “But there is a high cost to low prices,” implying that excessively low prices can lead to compromised quality. 💵💊👨⚕️
Take Intas Pharmaceuticals in India as an example. They manufactured three crucial chemotherapy drugs that are now hard to find. They had to stop production when the FDA found severe quality-control violations. 🛑💉🇮🇳
When FDA inspectors visited the Intas site, they found many bags full of torn and shredded documents. One quality-control worker had even doused the torn records in acid and discarded them. 📝🔍💔
However, Accord Pharmaceuticals, the U.S. distributor for Intas, stated that some of the drugs were tested by a third party, certified, and released to the U.S. market. The treatments Ms. Bray arranged for patients in Iowa were among these. They’re collaborating with the FDA to resume production for U.S. customers. 🇺🇸💊💪
A national survey conducted by the Society of Gynecologic Oncology revealed that doctors from 35 states reported minimal or no supply of the most critical chemotherapy drugs, even at major cancer centers and teaching hospitals. 😷🏥📝
Dr. Patrick Timmins expressed his frustration when his practice ran out of certain chemotherapy drugs on May 9, with 25 patients still in need. He likened patients’ fight against cancer to a war, and the shortage of drugs to disarming them. Dr. Timmins lamented the fact that we can’t quickly solve this recurring problem. 🤒💉💔
In a meeting with White House staff in late April, Ms. Bray suggested creating an exchange to get drugs where they’re most needed and to boost the production of small-batch medicines. 🏛️📋💊
Dr. Kevin Schulman, a professor at Stanford Medicine, urged the White House team to consider the significant power intermediary companies hold over generic drug makers. He believes these companies demand the lowest prices but aren’t held accountable during shortages. Dr. Schulman recommended that the government collaborate more with the non-profit Civica, which sells generic drugs at slightly higher prices to help manufacturers stay afloat. 🏛️💉💰
The intermediaries are driving people out of the market,” Dr. Schulman said. “I think it’s a market problem and we need market-level solutions.” He emphasized that the struggle faced by these manufacturers is a systemic issue that needs comprehensive strategies. 😤💰🔍
The situation is undeniably challenging, but it calls for unity, cooperation, and a shared commitment to address the problem. We are, after all, one big family. The responsibility is ours. We can, and we will, move forward together. 🤝🌎💖
