Global Drug Shortages Due to COVID-19: Impact on Patient Care and Mitigation Strategies

Overview

Journal Res Social Adm Pharm

Publisher Elsevier

Specialty Pharmacy

Date 2020 May 25

PMID 32446652

Citations 77

Authors

Hisham A Badreldin

Bassam Atallah

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) arising from Wuhan, China, is currently outbreaking worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared COVID-19 to be a global pandemic. COVID-19 could cause a wide range of symptoms ranging from self-limiting fever, sore throat, and cough to more severe symptoms that could lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome. As a result of the lockdown and increased demand, drug shortages could become a growing global issue. This article aims to shed light on the potential impact of drug shortages as a result of this pandemic on patient outcomes and the role of pharmacists and pharmacy policymakers in alleviating this emerging problem.

Citing Articles

Perceptions, attitudes and experiences of hospital pharmacists working in the private sector regarding drug shortage in Lebanon: a national cross-sectional study.

Hallal H, Hoteit M, Hallit S, Hallal M J Pharm Policy Pract. 2025; 18(1):2464786.

PMID: 40070676 PMC: 11894753. DOI: 10.1080/20523211.2025.2464786.

Addressing Drug Shortages at Mediclinic Parkview Hospital: A ‎Five-Year Study of ‎Challenges, Impact, and Strategies.

Sallam M, Oliver A, Allam D, Kassem R, Damani M Cureus. 2025; 16(12):e76377.

PMID: 39867009 PMC: 11760331. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.76377.

evaluation of and extract activity against SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in Golden Syrian hamsters: Potential herbal alternative for COVID-19 treatment.

Kongsomros S, Boonyarattanasoonthorn T, Phongphaew W, Kasorndorkbua C, Sunyakumthorn P, Im-Erbsin R J Tradit Complement Med. 2025; 14(6):598-610.

PMID: 39850600 PMC: 11752117. DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2024.05.004.

Managing medicine shortages.

Simpson T, Yik J Aust Prescr. 2024; 47(5):148-152.

PMID: 39526085 PMC: 11540915. DOI: 10.18773/austprescr.2024.045.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychotropic prescribing: a systematic review.

Mahesarajah S, Asmar M, Irwin R, Vallejo-Vaz A, Mastellos N, Dharmayat K BMJ Open. 2024; 14(9):e076791.

PMID: 39322596 PMC: 11425938. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-076791.

References

Bogaert P, Bochenek T, Prokop A, Pilc A . A Qualitative Approach to a Better Understanding of the Problems Underlying Drug Shortages, as Viewed from Belgian, French and the European Union's Perspectives. PLoS One. 2015; 10(5):e0125691. PMC: 4420462. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125691. View

McBride A, Holle L, Westendorf C, Sidebottom M, Griffith N, Muller R . National survey on the effect of oncology drug shortages on cancer care. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2013; 70(7):609-17. DOI: 10.2146/ajhp120563. View

Walker J, Chaar B, Vera N, Pillai A, Lim J, Bero L . Medicine shortages in Fiji: A qualitative exploration of stakeholders' views. PLoS One. 2017; 12(6):e0178429. PMC: 5459560. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178429. View

Hvisdas C, Lordan A, Pizzi L, Thoma B . US Propofol Drug Shortages: A Review of the Problem and Stakeholder Analysis. Am Health Drug Benefits. 2014; 6(4):171-5. PMC: 4031712. View

Liang B, Mackey T . Online availability and safety of drugs in shortage: a descriptive study of internet vendor characteristics. J Med Internet Res. 2012; 14(1):e27. PMC: 3374535. DOI: 10.2196/jmir.1999. View

Fox E, McLaughlin M . ASHP guidelines on managing drug product shortages. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2018; 75(21):1742-1750. DOI: 10.2146/ajhp180441. View

Alruthia Y, Alwhaibi M, Alotaibi M, Asiri S, Alghamdi B, Almuaythir G . Drug shortages in Saudi Arabia: Root causes and recommendations. Saudi Pharm J. 2018; 26(7):947-951. PMC: 6218331. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2018.05.002. View

Shaban H, Maurer C, Willborn R . Impact of Drug Shortages on Patient Safety and Pharmacy Operation Costs. Fed Pract. 2019; 35(1):24-31. PMC: 6248141. View

Holcombe B, Mattox T, Plogsted S . Drug Shortages: Effect on Parenteral Nutrition Therapy. Nutr Clin Pract. 2018; 33(1):53-61. DOI: 10.1002/ncp.10052. View

10.

Liu S, Luo P, Tang M, Hu Q, Polidoro J, Sun S . Providing pharmacy services during the coronavirus pandemic. Int J Clin Pharm. 2020; 42(2):299-304. PMC: 7101875. DOI: 10.1007/s11096-020-01017-0. View

11.

Ventola C . The drug shortage crisis in the United States: causes, impact, and management strategies. P T. 2012; 36(11):740-57. PMC: 3278171. View

12.

Li H, Liu S, Yu X, Tang S, Tang C . Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): current status and future perspectives. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2020; 55(5):105951. PMC: 7139247. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2020.105951. View

13.

Dooms M, Carvalho M . Compounded medication for patients with rare diseases. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2018; 13(1):1. PMC: 5753439. DOI: 10.1186/s13023-017-0741-y. View

14.

Pauwels K, Simoens S, Casteels M, Huys I . Insights into European drug shortages: a survey of hospital pharmacists. PLoS One. 2015; 10(3):e0119322. PMC: 4361582. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119322. View

15.

Perry J, Lee J, Sillberg V, Wells G . Rocuronium versus succinylcholine for rapid sequence induction intubation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008; (2):CD002788. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002788.pub2. View

16.

Rider A, Templet D, Daley M, Shuman C, Smith L . Clinical dilemmas and a review of strategies to manage drug shortages. J Pharm Pract. 2013; 26(3):183-91. DOI: 10.1177/0897190013482332. View

17.

Berger J, Smith A, Zorn K, Sukumvanich P, Olawaiye A, Kelley J . Outcomes analysis of an alternative formulation of PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin in recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma during the drug shortage era. Onco Targets Ther. 2014; 7:1409-13. PMC: 4133030. DOI: 10.2147/OTT.S62881. View

18.

Kahwati L, Elter J, Straits-Troster K, Kinsinger L, Davey V . The impact of the 2004-2005 influenza vaccine shortage in the Veterans Health Administration. J Gen Intern Med. 2007; 22(8):1132-8. PMC: 2305749. DOI: 10.1007/s11606-007-0249-6. View

19.

Wang Y, Zhang D, Du G, Du R, Zhao J, Jin Y . Remdesivir in adults with severe COVID-19: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial. Lancet. 2020; 395(10236):1569-1578. PMC: 7190303. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31022-9. View

20.

Wilder-Smith A, Chiew C, Lee V . Can we contain the COVID-19 outbreak with the same measures as for SARS?. Lancet Infect Dis. 2020; 20(5):e102-e107. PMC: 7102636. DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30129-8. View