Drug Company Buyouts: The Worst Thing to Happen in Healthcare.

Being in this field since 2010, one of the first things I've noticed was how fast the healthcare technology and environment changes. The hospital underwent expansions, oral and IV solutions went to barcode reading, ordering systems become revamped or replaced(sometimes within 6 months!),automated robots healthcare workers to clean rooms filled with possible deadly bacteria, it's a crazy world we live in today. However, even with these advancements in technology, there is one thing that has remained an issue since I've started in this field, drug shortages.Every year it's gotten worse…. But this year its gotten to the point where this level of shortages are unacceptable.Simple drugs such as calcium chloride, calcium gluconate, Even dextrose! A substance commonly given as a fluid for making IV drugs when sodium chloride can't be given, is unavailable. Why in the hell is the happening?

Because greedy damn companies wanting a monopoly. I personally feel competition between companies is a good thing, and I know you all agree. But lately it seems these companies would rather please their investors then worry about producing products. So how do they do it? Buying out the competition. Just recently, Hospira, one of the largest companies out there that produces generic products that just so happens to make ALL of the things I have listed above, was bought out by Pfizer,…….. essentially the Comcast of the drug world. This purchase finally completed its transfer late 2016, and now its showing it's true colors.

Of course they had a set number of agreements to fulfill by a committee of politicians(corruption) that pfizer would do……. except they didn't. One of the things they were ‘supposed” to do was continue the supply of generic drugs. Well, that certainly didn't happen now did it? I'm not going o cover the whole list of shortages, since the mass amount of them is enough to make this article into a damn college thesis, but I will link it. https://www.ashp.org/Drug-Shortages/Current-Shortages
(Keep in mind, the list is slowly updated, and sometimes drugs aren't posted yet. But I will admit, they have the website alot cleaner and easier to navigate.)

So, you're probably wondering what Pfizer has to say about this. Their excuse: “We didn't anticipate this level of demand.” What a load of crap. You buy arguably one of, if not the largest generic drugs companies in the world, and you couldn't anticipate this? They had 2 years to figure this out, and they still messed it up. The laid off people, shut down warehouses and manufacturing plants, without even thinking of what was needed.

Now let's hit my work setting example. Some of those drugs I have named, are used for something called code carts. Code carts are literally the life saving cart that is filled with crucial medications to give to patients when flatline. With these shortages, we are juggling around trying to find replacements or substitutes which is sometimes not even possible. It's gotten so far, that pfizer emailed us a list of drugs to extend the dating on so they can produce more…. Not entirely sure how safe that is to extend the dating of an expired product?

Of course they send drug reps in to “calm our fears”, but literally every time they come in they are flooded with questions they have no answers to. Sometimes the doctors get angry and will full out snap on them(poor reps).

The shortages are expected to last until the until of 2017, but it wouldn't surprise me if they fail that too. Won't be the first time, won't be the last time. Drug companies should never be allowed to buy out another company. It truly is the worst thing to happen in healthcare.

Sources of images:

http://pharmamkting.blogspot.com/2011/02/pfizer-inc-working-together-for.html?m=1

http://www.massdevice.com/pfizer-hospira-deal-do-pharma-and-device-companies-need-each-other/

http://www.cafepharma.com/boards/threads/pfizer-hospira-thoughts.583238/

http://www.harloff.com/acute-carts/emergency-carts/