National Drug Shortages:
January 2001 to March 2025
SUMMARY
- The number of active drug shortages is 270, virtually unchanged for the past 3 quarters, but down from an all-time high of 323 in the first quarter of 2024.
- Shortages of critical and life-saving fluids remain a concern following the manufacturing delays caused by the repercussions of Hurricane Helene.
- More than one-third of all active shortages (41%) began in 2022 or earlier.
- Workload required to manage shortages, including work to change pharmacy automation and electronic health records, adds to the challenges of pharmacy staff shortages.
Selected Links of Interest
- Federal Policies to Address Persistent Generic Drug Shortages
- ASHP Drug Shortage Survey Report - Fluids
- ASHP Policy Solutions to Address the Drug Shortage Crisis
- Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee (hearing)
- Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs (hearing and report)
- Government Accountability Office Report on Drug Shortages
- Building Resilience Into US Prescription Drug Supply Chains
- National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine to examine the security of America’s medical product supply chain
- Improving the Quality and Resilience of the United States Healthcare Supply Chain
For More Information
All data provided by the University of Utah Drug Information Service. ASHP and the University of Utah maintain a drug shortage database that tracks drug availability, including regional shortages, across the nation.
For more information, visit ashp.org/drug-shortages or contact:
Erin R. Fox, PharmD, MHA, BCPS
Associate Chief Pharmacy Officer - Shared Services University of Utah Drug Information Service
linkedin.com/in/erin-r-fox-utah
@foxerinr.bsky.social
Michael Ganio, PharmD, BCPS, FASHP
Senior Director, Pharmacy Practice and Quality
ASHP
linkedin.com/in/michaelganio
Please contact Dr. Fox for permission to reprint data.
