Fifty-five instances of drug shortages were reported in the first two months of this year, Food and Drug Administration data showed.
The number of drug shortage reports rose from 189 in 2018 to 355 in 2020, before falling to 225 last year.
Drugs that have been in short supply in the past two years include cardiovascular drugs, anti-infectives, gastrointestinal medicines, metabolic agents, cancer drugs and immunosuppressants, the agency said in an assessment of the shortages.
People with chronic diseases tend to buy their medicines in bulk ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday each year, leaving fewer doses available for clinical uses, drug
By Lin Hui-chin and Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporter, with staff writerFifty-five instances of drug shortages were reported in the first two months of this year, Food and Drug Administration data showed.