How drug shortages are impacting Central Virginia communities
FARMVILLE, Va. (WRIC) — A Farmville woman is hopeful that new legislation will help prevent drug shortages as her pain medication becomes harder to find. Wendy Oliver told 8News that completing everyday tasks like getting out of bed or cleaning the house have become increasingly difficult since she was diagnosed with Lupus. Oliver said in recent years her husband has stepped in to help take care of her. “He dusts, he vacuums, he fixes me my breakfast. He gets me up in the morning because I can't get myself out of bed," said Oliver. She says it is her husband's help and her prescribed medication, hydromorphone, that makes the day-to-day pain more manageable. However, the two have ran into trouble recently trying to find a pharmacy nearby that has it. Wendy Oliver (Courtesy of Rolynn Wilson, 8News) “I mean, any pharmaceutical pharmacy we could find. And everybody was like, no, don't have it in stock," said Oliver. Oliver and her husband say they've called across the Commonwealth, hoping to find a pharmacy that has the medication in stock, but their chances have been few and far between. When they were able to find the drug, Oliver says her husband has driven more than an hour away from their Farmville home to pick it up. According to the FDA, there has been an increase in demand for hydromorphone, leading to shortages. A spokesperson told 8News, they can't require companies to make more of a drug but "the public should rest assured the FDA is working closely with numerous manufacturers and others in the supply chain to understand, mitigate and prevent or reduce the impact of intermittent or reduced availability of certain products." (Courtesy of Rolynn Wilson, 8News) Senator Tim Kaine said he is aware of how demand and supply issues have impacted Virginians -- that's why he is introducing a bipartisan bill called the 'End Drug Shortages Act' aimed at stopping shortages before they become a problem. “We will require pharmaceutical companies to notify the FDA when they start to see a surge in demand that could lead to potential supply chain shortages," said Kaine. "Having that sort of an early warning system in place will enable the FDA to understand the likelihood of future drug shortages and then work with industry to fill gaps." Several steps will need to take place before this bill could become law, starting with approval in a senate committee and the floor before it's presented in the house through a similar process. For a full list of current and resolved drug shortages and discontinuations you can visit the FDA's website.
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FARMVILLE, Va. (WRIC) — A Farmville woman is hopeful that new legislation will help prevent drug shortages as her pain medication becomes harder to find.
Wendy Oliver told 8News that completing everyday tasks like getting out of bed or cleaning the house have become increasingly difficult since she was diagnosed with Lupus.
Oliver said in recent years her husband has stepped in to help take care of her.
“He dusts, he vacuums, he fixes me my breakfast. He gets me up in the morning because I can't get myself out of bed," said Oliver.
She says it is her husband's help and her prescribed medication, hydromorphone, that makes the day-to-day pain more manageable. However, the two have ran into trouble recently trying to find a pharmacy nearby that has it.
Wendy Oliver (Courtesy of Rolynn Wilson, 8News)
“I mean, any pharmaceutical pharmacy we could find. And everybody was like, no, don't have it in stock," said Oliver.
Oliver and her husband say they've called across the Commonwealth, hoping to find a pharmacy that has the medication in stock, but their chances have been few and far between. When they were able to find the drug, Oliver says her husband has driven more than an hour away from their Farmville home to pick it up.
According to the FDA, there has been an increase in demand for hydromorphone, leading to shortages.
A spokesperson told 8News, they can't require companies to make more of a drug but "the public should rest assured the FDA is working closely with numerous manufacturers and others in the supply chain to understand, mitigate and prevent or reduce the impact of intermittent or reduced availability of certain products."
(Courtesy of Rolynn Wilson, 8News)
Senator Tim Kaine said he is aware of how demand and supply issues have impacted Virginians -- that's why he is introducing a bipartisan bill called the 'End Drug Shortages Act' aimed at stopping shortages before they become a problem.
“We will require pharmaceutical companies to notify the FDA when they start to see a surge in demand that could lead to potential supply chain shortages," said Kaine. "Having that sort of an early warning system in place will enable the FDA to understand the likelihood of future drug shortages and then work with industry to fill gaps."
Several steps will need to take place before this bill could become law, starting with approval in a senate committee and the floor before it's presented in the house through a similar process.
For a full list of current and resolved drug shortages and discontinuations you can visit the FDA's website.
