‘We Can’t Wait Anymore’: Obama Orders FDA To Target Drug Prices and Supply
- Posted on October 31, 2011 at 10:48am by
Becket Adams
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President Barack Obama is directing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take steps to reduce drug shortages, a situation that some have referred to as an “escalating problem” that raises the “possibility of price gouging.”
“The shortage of prescription drugs drives up costs, leaves consumers vulnerable to price gouging and threatens our health and safety,” said a White House statement.
The FDA reported 178 drug shortages last year, and the agency says it continues to see an increase in shortages this year. Major causes of drug shortages are said to be quality or manufacturing problems, or delays in receiving components from suppliers.
Recently, some patient deaths have been blamed on shortages, which, of course, has a detrimental affect on cancer drugs, anesthetics, drugs used in emergency medicine, and electrolytes needed for intravenous feeding.
In response to this perceived predicament, White House official said Obama planned to sign an executive order Monday instructing the FDA to take action in three areas:
- Broadening its reporting of potential drug shortages
- Accelerating reviews of applications to change production of drugs facing potential shortages
- Giving the Justice Department more information about possible instances of collusion or price gouging.
“The president’s action is a recognition of the fact that this is a serious problem, and we can and should do more to help solve it,” said an administration official in a recent New York Times article. “We can’t wait anymore.”
The executive order would be the latest in the president’s campaign to move on initiatives that do not require congressional approval. Last week, he issued an executive order to help homeowners refinance at lower mortgage rates and on Friday he directed government agencies to shorten the time it takes for federal research to turn into commercial products in the marketplace
The president has also reportedly thrown his support behind for House and Senate legislation that would “require drug makers to notify the FDA six months ahead of a potential shortage,” according to the Associated Press.
Under current regulations, drug manufactures are only required to notify the FDA if medically necessary drugs are being discontinued. Notification of shortages is strictly voluntary.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and FDA Commissioner Peggy Hamburg were expected to join Obama at the White House as he signs the executive order.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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kkrumrine
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 9:06pmIf Obama is just going to E.O. everything ANYWAY, because Congress is not doing their job (according to him), then what do we need Congress for? The way I see it, fire Congress (House and Senate), and save their salaries. At $174,000/year per voting member, multiplied by 12 months, multiplied by the number of voting members, 535, the savings to the taxpayers: $1,117,080,000/year. That does not include any of their benefits. So, we reduce the deficit, save the annointed one from more headaches, and the taxpayers get to keep more of their money…but alas, the annointed one would find a billion plus places for that savings to go.
Report Post »Apple Bite
Posted on November 2, 2011 at 5:23amBuffoonery at it’s finest…..
Report Post »Patriotic_Mercenary
Posted on November 1, 2011 at 1:12amWow…I’m flabbergasted. Trying to wrap my head around this one…
He’s going to have the FDA force drug manufacturers make the medication? How is that even possible? Shortages…are shortages. If the companies are deliberately creating shortages, then how is it possible to truly gauge this?
What if the company decides that it’s not going to make the drug anymore? Granted, they spent millions of dollars on research and approval. That would be a major blow to them, as the FDA may then take action and have the drug made by a generic brand-maker.
At what point can the government come in and say what a company will or will not manufacture? That smacks of Statism to me.
IMHO, the FDA and Pharmaceuticals are all in collusion anyway. There are plenty of other remedies that are low-cost that work for people’s ailments, but are not “approved”.
Report Post »HollerFreedom
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 10:05pmThese regulations will most likely force drug costs up, not down, due to the administrative involved. Also, the supply may decrease as drug companies produce only in solitary large batches, rather than continuously, in order to avoid FDA fees and penalties for not meeting quotas. The end result will be increased drug costs, which will lead to more costs for insurance companies and higher insurance premiums. And THAT, will lead to dropped policies, reduced insured customers, fewer people on private insurance, and more people on ObamaCare. All hail Big Brother!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 9:14pmPharaoh Obama… has spoken… let it be recorded… let the gods praise Him!
Report Post »Tronix
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 8:43pmWhere is the Congress?…Where is the Supreme Court?…..are there any balls in Washington D.C.?…I can’t believe that anybody will face this weak clown!!
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 8:20pmWhy are we short certain types of drugs? Cancer medications are the ones that I am aware of from the media. I’m not sure what other medication shortages exist. But I do find it curious. Did the fireman in charge start the fire to come back later & tell everyone watching it burn that the fire really needs to be put out & “they” really should get started?
Report Post »ripley
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 7:29pmIsn’t if convenient that Obama fails to mention the 15 or so bills the House of Representatives has passed & sent to the Senate. Sen. Reid refuses to bring any of them up for a vote. If Obama was even half a man, he would instruct Sen. Reid to do his job.
Report Post »midnightgolfer
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 7:19pmTotalitarianists never had to be congruent, consistent, nor concise, they just had to be impatient and force their system, whatever it was, on top of everything else. Sounds simple because movements towards totalitarianism have always been so simple that no one actually thought anyone would try it, until they did.
Report Post »TheePolitinator
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 5:57pmYes all us racist and god, country loving t-bagging crazy folk are here, GTFO seriously
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 3:49pmYep, seems to be alot of people on meds these days…heck, unless your in the breezy, sunny day on an old fashioned swing kinda mood…something must be wrong?!? Medicate the masses-they will be easier to handle that way. Withhold the necessary meds to frighten the masses-they will acquience to your every request.
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 5:00pmMaybe they should quit bilking millions of dollars from the companies to have their drug approved in the first place.
Report Post »LOJ
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 3:38pmLook at the goals of the President, can anyone seriously say he is not a Dictator!
Report Post »MrGeek
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 6:10pmHe is not a dictator … he is the King of America, ruling by divine providence.
Report Post »Will4Freedom
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 3:10pm“The president has also reportedly thrown his support behind for House and Senate legislation that would “require drug makers to notify the FDA six months ahead of a potential shortage,” according to the Associated Press.”
A law requiring Pharmaceutical companies to be fortune tellers. Nice.
This POTUS wants to get his liberal little fingers into everything. Central planning at its best (worse).
In a True Free Market, companies would not dare “withhold” products, for fear of losing market share to an competitor willing to fill the need.
Report Post »fuzzy20841
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 2:32pmFor every new law passed there has to be an increase in Government staff to administer it. So this is the Obama plans to increase jobs! Do you think that we will ever see the other side of the story? This guy really hates Profits!
Report Post »packsack54
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 2:29pmFollow the money, most Americans are no more than a drug additic? If it not prescription drugs it call medical drug pushers. Have a generation or two of additics. They affect newborns and other family members. Why do most people have to take a pill for all their conditions, depression, sex,pycho’s, etc. Just because things are not going ok in their lives they need medication. There only a few condition where the body is lacking certain elements.
Report Post »FANGS
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 2:02pmWill someone please start this revolution allready. I truely think America could have all the democrats, Unions and socialists wiped out by Christmas, if we start right now.
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 8:13pmFangs: We don’t kill people here.
Report Post »jjufon
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 1:58pmwow! this should really get folks back to work
good job!
Report Post »Blackop
Posted on October 31, 2011 at 4:00pmI haven’t posted here in a while. I see now that it’s even more full of crazy, racist ranting than ever.
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