Diagnosing Drug Shortages
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Authors
Farr, Matthew
Date
2015-10-03
Type
thesis
Language
eng
Keyword
Health Policy , Economic Analysis of Drug Shortages , Drug Shortages , Group Purchasing Organizations , GPOs , Healthcare , Generic Drugs , Quality Improvement , Drug Shortage Crisis , Ethics , Drug Shortage Causes , Health Economics , Pharmaceuticals
Alternative Title
Abstract
Wealthy countries are increasingly experiencing shortages of a wide range of generic drugs. These shortages are creating substantial harms for patients and problems for health systems. Despite recurring shortages and industry investigations, the nature and character of the drug shortage crisis remain the same: shortage drugs provide slim or negative profit margins, generic drug companies are reluctant to invest in quality improvements, and manufacturers are finding more reason to exit shortage drug markets. This thesis catalogues and explores these and other causes of the problem.
The proposals that have been made to address the problem at best merely mitigate it, and only target the systemic manufacturing and regulatory issues that immediately precede a shortage. The targeted issues are only symptoms, and not the root causes of drug shortages. In order to properly address the drug shortage crisis and minimize these symptoms, solutions must acknowledge the underlying economic mechanisms that make the crisis a reality. This thesis argues that, specifically, tackling drug shortages requires that one examine the economic pressures exerted on drug manufacturers by the Medicare Modernization Act’s Average-Sales-Price reimbursement system, and the practices and behaviours of group purchasing organizations. To understand these pressures and effects on manufacturers is to uncover some of the root economic causes of the drug shortage crisis that give rise to the manufacturing issues immediately preceding drug shortages.
Description
Thesis (Master, Philosophy) -- Queen's University, 2015-10-02 15:34:46.564
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Queen's University's Thesis/Dissertation Non-Exclusive License for Deposit to QSpace and Library and Archives Canada
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Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.
ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement
Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University
Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.