Obama Directs FDA to Reduce Drug Shortages

Major causes of drug shortages are said to be quality or manufacturing problems, or delays in receiving components from suppliers.

President Barack Obama is directing the FDA to take steps to reduce drug shortages, an escalating problem that has endangered patients and raised the possibility of price gouging.

Patient deaths have been blamed on the shortages, which tend to affect cancer drugs, anesthetics, drugs used in emergency medicine, and electrolytes needed for intravenous feeding. Hospitals have been forced to buy from secondary suppliers at huge markups. Surgeries and cancer treatments have been delayed.

A White House official said Obama planned to sign an executive order Monday instructing the FDA to take action.

Obama also will announce his support for House and Senate legislation that would require drug makers t