November 2012

What do we learn from the recent meningitis outbreak associated with contaminated Methylprednisolone steroid injection, which resulted in 24 deaths and 317 illnesses?

The problems: There’s national shortage of not only methylprednisolone, but also other important common medications. The shortage is mainly due to the 2005 government rule to prevent reimbursement to providers for injectable and other drugs from rising more than 6% above the average sales price. In effect, drug makers can charge less for producing the medications, and in response, they reduce the production of the drugs. The shortage in drug supplies turn hospitals and providers to compounding pharmacies, which have less stringent regulations on their production lines, for supplies. This results in less qualified products.