Impact on Patient Care
According to a survey, 60% of respondents reported shortages of more than 20 drugs, single-use supplies, or other medical devices in the six months leading up to the survey. The shortage crisis has permeated multiple medical specialties, with 74% of respondents citing compromised care in surgery and anesthetics, 64% in emergency care, 52% in pain management, 45% in cardiology, 44% in hematology and oncology, 39% in infectious diseases, and 37% in obstetrics and gynecology.
Disruptions in the medical product supply chain have been an ongoing issue for decades. Although shortages of drugs and medical devices can be life-threatening for some individuals, they also have broader systemic impacts. These shortages put additional strain on manufacturers and suppliers to handle unexpected spikes in demand, ultimately affecting the entire U.S. healthcare system and resulting in costs amounting to millions of dollars annually (National Academies).