AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – A nationwide chemotherapy drug shortage continues to impact patients and caregivers here in Georgia.
Georgia lawmakers in Congress recently sent a letter to the FDA asking for an update on the status of the shortage.
They want to know what’s being done about it, how the safety of imported drugs is being evaluated, and how drug shortages will be better handled in the future.
“I’m bringing Republicans and Democrats together to launch this bipartisan inquiry with the FDA to get to the bottom of this,” said U.S. Senator for Georgia Jon Ossoff. “What’s the federal government going to need to do, what Congress needs to do to relieve this shortage and make sure cancer patients are getting the treatment they need?”
In a recent survey of 29 cancer centers across the country, 86% of them reported a shortage of anti-cancer drugs.
And in September, the White House said the nation has a shortage of 15 cancer medications due to manufacturing and supply chain issues.