Nationwide Cancer Drug Shortage Forces Rationing and Treatment Complications.

The US is currently experiencing one of the most severe shortages of chemotherapy drugs it has seen for three decades, with over 130 drugs in short supply, 14 of which are cancer treatments. The low cost of generic front-line cancer drugs has played a role in recurrent chemotherapy drug shortages, as pharmaceutical companies are not incentivised to manufacture them due to low profits. Experts suggest that the US government should work with the private sector to create national strategic reserves of critical medicines and incentivise higher-quality pharmaceutical companies to manufacture them.