"Escalating US Drug Shortages: Lawmakers Demand Immediate Action"

Drug shortages in the United States have reached record highs, putting millions of Americans at risk of relapse and even death. Patients with aggressive blood cancers, life-threatening pneumonia, and mental illness are among those waiting over a year for vital medicines. The number of medications in short supply rose nearly 30 percent between 2021 and 2022, reaching a five-year record high of 295. The crisis has caught the attention of US politicians, who are now addressing the issue. Factors contributing to the shortages include the US government's failure to regulate profit-hungry drug companies, the discontinuation of older generic drugs, and the country's reliance on key materials from China and India for medicine production. The FDA acknowledges the impact of drug shortages but has limited control over drug manufacturing. Non-profit organizations like Angels for Change are working to address the issue and help patients access critical medications.