The U.S. has one of the most sophisticated healthcare systems in the world, and invents more drugs than any other country in the world. It therefore stands to reason that, financial accessibility aside, U.S. hospitals should have access to any and all drugs they need to treat their patients—but this is not the case. In fact, hospitals around the world face shortages of the most basic medicines, threatening the lives of vulnerable patients.
The FDA maintains a database of drug shortages faced in the U.S., and it’s an alarming list. Three types of penicillin, including benzathine penicillin G, are listed as “currently in shortage.” Benzathine penicillin G is used to treat rheumatic heart failure, streptococcal infections, STIs, and other bacterial diseases. Other drugs on the shortage list include calcium chloride injections, epinephrine, sterile talc powder, saline, and sodium bicarbonate injections.