A pair of lawmakers are calling for immediate action to prepare for and prevent anticipated critical drug shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Patty Murray (D-WA) have forwarded correspondence to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the White House Coronavirus Task Force regarding the matter.
“Given missed opportunities to prepare for and head off shortages of critical medical supplies and protective equipment, it is imperative that the federal government learn from its failures and act now to procure, supply, and sustain our nation’s current stock of lifesaving and life-sustaining drugs essential to treat patients battling COVID-19,” the Senators wrote. “Our medical professionals are doing everything they can to save lives but we must ensure they have the medication necessary to properly treat patients.”
Peters is ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee while Murray serves in the same capacity on the Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee.
The legislators maintain the government must take aggressive action to prevent shortages of critical drugs, adding antibiotics, antivirals, sedatives and pain management medication are all at risk of shortages due to the pandemic.
Peters and Murray have requested detailed information on the Administration’s plan to address drug shortages, including the current status of critical drugs held in the Strategic National Stockpile, the drug requests made by states struggling with the Coronavirus pandemic and a list of the Administration’s contracts and procurement proposals to obtain the critical drugs needed to combat COVID-19.