Economic laws keep most industries running smoothly. But
medicine can be different—and right now it's out of control.
Just as Japanese officials predict that disruptions from the
earthquake and tsunami may last all year, The Washington Post
reveals a crisis that may take more lives than the Fukushima
nuclear tragedy—shortages of essential pharmaceuticals: A record
211 medications became scarce in 2010 — triple the number in
2006 — and at least 89 new shortages have been recorded through
the end of March, putting the nation on track for far more
scarcities. The paucities are forcing some medical centers to
ration drugs — including one urgently needed by leukemia
patients — postpone surgeries and other care, and scramble for
substitutes, often resorting to alternatives that may be less
effective, have more side effects and boost the risk for
overdoses and other sometimes-fatal errors. Three factors are
contributing to the emergency: major companies abandoning
production of drugs that have lost patent protection