Per Healthcare Ready November Newsletter
Survey Reveals Critical Drug Shortages Impacting Pharmacies
In a recent online survey commissioned by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhTs) possessing PTCB’s Supply Chain and Inventory Management Certificate expressed deep concerns about continued drug shortages in their pharmacies. Nearly 96 percent of survey respondents reported grappling with the challenges of drug scarcity, raising critical issues in patient care and workflow management.
Identified Shortage Drugs:
Survey participants identified several categories of drugs in high demand and short supply, including chemotherapy medications, ADHD treatments, GLP-1 agonists for weight loss and diabetes management (such as Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Wegovy), and local anesthetics like lidocaine. These scarcities have created substantial workflow disruptions, with 72 percent of respondents indicating that drug shortages have a very significant or significant impact on their daily operations.
Pharmacy Technician Strategies:
To combat the ongoing drug shortage crisis, 90 percent of respondents recommend alternative medications when they are available. However, 45 percent of the time, pharamcies are unable to fulfill prescriptions due to these shortages. In such cases, pharmacy technicians make use of their pharmacy’s compounding services (28.79%) or refer patients to another compounding pharmacy (6.06%).
Advanced Credentials as a Solution:
As drug shortages persist, pharmacy technicians with advanced and specialty credentials have the potential to play a crucial role in addressing the problem. The following six drugs were identified as the most pressing supply issues among pharmacy technicians:
- Adderall, an ADHD medication.
- Bupivacaine, a local anesthetic.
- Carboplatin, a medication used to treat various cancers.
- Cisplatin, a chemotherapy drug for multiple cancer types.
- Fluorouracil/5FU, a medication for several cancer types.
- Lidocaine, a local anesthetic.
As the healthcare industry continues to grapple with these drug shortages, the determination and innovative strategies of pharmacy technicians are essential in ensuring that patients receive the care they need. Collaboration and resourcefulness remain key to addressing these ongoing challenges.
Tags: Adderall Compounding Drug Shortages Lidocaine New Trends