National Drug Shortage Impacting The U.S.

NewsOn6.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- If you or a loved one suffers from cancer, heart disease or other illnesses, you may find a drug you need is in short supply.

Doctors and hospitals are coping with major drug shortages includes a record 211 medications.

FDA list of drug shortages.

A Washington, D.C. newspaper reports medical centers across the U.S. are being forced to ration drugs including one needed by Leukemia patients.

Medical workers say they're sometimes forced to use alternative medicines that may be less effective and that have more side effects.

People studying this problem say the biggest cause could be the consolidation of the drug industry.

Meaning now only a few drug makers of still producing some of the older, less profitable products and they just can't keep up with the demand.