US faces public health crisis due to prescription drug shortages, says ACP

Source: Scripps News

Posted 10:45 AM, Aug 12, 2025


The American College of Physicians issued a report on Monday indicating that a shortage of prescription medication is causing a "public health crisis."

The report states that this ongoing shortage is leading to poor health outcomes and placing significant strain on physicians and hospitals. It emphasizes that patient and physician administrative burdens exacerbate the shortage.

The report cites data from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the University of Utah Drug Information Service, which revealed that drug shortages spiked in 2023 and 2024. Medicines such as central nervous system therapies, antimicrobials, hormone agents, chemotherapies, and fluids and electrolytes are among those more likely to be in short supply.

Another key issue highlighted in the report is that low prices are often prioritized over sustainable and reliable production practices. It notes that medications lower in cost tend to be the ones more likely to be out of stock. Additionally, the report states that health systems and practitioners are spending valuable resources trying to track down medications for patients.

Read more: https://www.scrippsnews.com/health/medicine/us-faces-public-health-crisis-due-to-prescription-drug-shortages-says-acp