Congress must end 'severe' prescription drug shortage, GOP governors tell McCarthy and Schumer

Republican governors from 11 states sent a letter to leaders in Congress demanding bipartisan action on the pervasive drug shortages touching a variety of medical conditions and sectors of the healthcare industry.

"To date, little has been done to address this crisis," wrote Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD), the primary author of the letter. "States are taking what limited action we can to combat prescription drug shortages [but] to create real change, the states need Washington to take action."

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The Food and Drug Administration lists 136 drugs as currently in shortage. This includes various antibiotics, such as penicillin and clindamycin, pain medications such as morphine and lidocaine, cancer drugs such as methotrexate, and cardiac medication such as atropine and digoxin.

Other critical pharmaceutical supplies are limited as well, such as sterile water for wound irrigation, sodium chloride for IV fluids, and dextrose for blood sugar stabilization.

"These shortages are not new, but they are becoming more frequent and more severe," wrote the governors. "Pharmacists in our states are having to tell patients that they don’t have critical medicine available. Nobody should have to experience that kind of worry, especially not in the United States of America."

The letter addressed to Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) stressed the need for bipartisan solutions to the national crisis, particularly in the area of strengthening transparency on pharmaceutical supply chain problems.

"The FDA and medical companies are currently restricted by federal law regarding their transparency policies," wrote the governors. "The American people deserve to know the truth behind where their prescription drugs are coming from and how they are quality tested, especially when those drugs are originating overseas."

The governors, including Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX), Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA), and Gov. Sarah Sanders (R-AR), among others, also suggested changing regulatory policy to increase domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing, examining FDA guidance on medication expiration dates, and allowing waivers for purchasing medications from Canada.

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"These practical steps toward greater transparency and flexibility will ensure safety and dependability in our pharmaceutical supply chain," the governors said.

The Washington Examiner contacted the offices of McCarthy, Jeffries, Schumer, and McConnell for comment.