DEAR DOCTOR K: It seems like every day in the paper I read about doctors and hospitals running out of medicines because the pharmaceutical companies can't manufacture enough of them. Why are we having these problems?
DEAR READER: You aren't just imagining this; the problem really has gotten worse. There have been shortfalls of common drugs for ADHD, cancer, pain and heart disease. Like other doctors, I'm frustrated. Understandably, our patients are scared. Although drug shortages are not new, they seem to be on the upswing. According to The Associated Press, tracking information from the University of Utah Drug Information Service shows 267 newly reported drug shortages in the United States in 2011, up from just 58 in 2004. Clearly, this is not in the public interest.