2023 HEALTH CARE EDITION
FOLLOWING THE SUPPLY CHAIN
Multiple parties—such as suppliers, manufacturers, wholesalers, hospitals and pharmacies—make up the supply chain for medications, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and disruptions can happen at any point along the journey, causing drug shortages.
Supplier : Provides components and ingredients
Manufacturer : Processes ingredients for pharmaceutical products
Wholesaler distributor (primary) : Purchases medications from manufacturers and distributes them to customers
Pharmacy or hospital : Can also include nursing homes, doctor’s o ces, labs and clinics
Patient : 48.6% of people in the U.S. used a prescription
for medications to manufacturers
drug in the last 30 days from 2015-18.
Repackager : Moves medications into di erent containers without altering the product
Wholesaler distributor (secondary) : Independent pharmacies can seek out secondary wholesaler distributors when
SOURCES: FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, THE KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION COMMUNITY IMPACT
looking for out-of-stock medications
“I think a lot of it right now just has to do with the manufacturing and the actual supply of the ingredients, and just getting that process turned around and getting the drugs in our store,” Ho art said. Meanwhile, 56% of manufactur- ers did not know the cause or would not provide a cause, according to the report. Managing in the meantime Amid these drug shortages, Tachie-Menson said Memorial
Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center continually monitors short- ages to see what it needs to be con- cerned about, what drug alternatives it has and how much of certain drugs it has in stock. “We do a lot of prework to try and be proactive with some of these drug shortages,” Tachie-Menson said. Ho art said his sta spends time daily trying to source medicine for patients. “If we get a prescription that’s not available, we’ll try our primary vendor or
reach out to secondaries,” he said. “But if we can’t locate it from those vendors, then we are forced to going back to the physician and seeing if they’re willing to change it, make recommendations.” Berlin said it does not happen often when a medication or an alternative is not available. “I think, overall, most things have been somewhat intermittent,” Berlin said. “Like maybe we can’t get it for a week, but then the next week we’re able to nally get it in.” If a patient’s medication cannot be
sourced, their treatment plan usually starts over, Sidhu said. “This takes time and e ort, and it is frustrating to watch our patients su er from a condition that would otherwise be well-managed,” Sidhu said. “We want our patients to feel well, and that is di - cult if they can’t get their medicine.” Hannah Brol contributed to this report.
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See a David Weekley Homes Sales Consultant for details. Prices, plans, dimensions, features, specifications, materials, and availability of homes or communities are subject to change without notice or obligation. Illustrations are artist’s depictions only and may differ from completed improvements. Copyright © 2022 David Weekley Homes - All Rights Reserved. Houston, TX (HOU-22-001699)
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TOMBALL MAGNOLIA EDITION • JUNE 2023
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