I am writing to bring attention to a serious consequence of government interference in our healthcare system that isn't getting the appropriate amount of exposure. One problem is that US doctors are benevolent workhorses that go along with change without resisting or questioning the repercussions.
I see this every day in multiple hospitals. This should scare the hell out of you as a patient.
American hospitals are rationing basic medical supplies and basic medicines. It hinders my ability to help you, the patient.
This month has a shortage of Normal Saline iv fluid and hydralazine blood pressure medicine.
This is super dangerous for pregnant women. Preeclampsia kills pregnant women. I only have 3 pre-approved medication options for blood pressure medications in an emergency. One of them is currently on restriction because of a shortage, and some women have an "allergy" or contraindication for using the second option. For some women, their body doesn't respond to the third option.
There is currently a major focus on reducing maternal mortality in our country. Why in our land of plenty is the death rate of pregnant women rising and we are having drug shortages and rationing of important medication.
The Medicare and Medicaid systems fix the price they will pay for Normal Saline and hydralazine to a low level. Therefore, the drug manufacturers have no reason to make the medication. So the supply is super low.
But, over 50% of patients on Labor & Delivery units are government paid patients. The hospital and drug company are not allowed to increase the price paid for the medication, even if there is a shortage. So the drug company has no reason to increase production.
You throw in the expense and risk of lawsuits to the drug company from 1-800-bad-drug, and the drug company says, "I am just going to stop making that drug all together."
Now, we lost the generic drug all together. Why make a lifesaving drug if you lose money on every dose that you make.
We are losing life saving, generic drugs because the government is setting artificially low prices. The most vulnerable members of our society, pregnant women and children are being denied access to easily effective healthcare every day in America today, we just don't realize it.
Free markets work. Government regulations are not the answer.
One other excuse for equipment supply shortages that those of us that work in hospitals are given is the damage that Puerto Rico has sustained from a hurricane last year. We need to look closer at this "hurricane damage" excuse.
Why do we have to export our manufacturing of our medical supplies to Puerto Rico? Why can't we manufacture them in Pennsylvania or Texas?
Price fixing and high cost to employ workers. Both government regulations.
The FDA is now considering changing protective and approval processes for "Therapeutic Equivalence" medication because of these shortages. Is it possible that these changes can open up our medication supply to dangerous manufacturing processes to cut costs?
The root cause of this is market manipulation.
The free market will solve this problem.
Government intervention started the problem, and more government intervention will only make it worse. This is endangering the health of our citizens. We can do better. We have done better in the past.
http://www.nber.org/papers/w17987
https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/clinical-care/fda-forms-task-force-solve-drug-shortages
https://www.syracuse.com/health/index.ssf/2018/08/hypothyroidism_thyroid_medication_recalled_westminster.html