STAT+: The shortage of many medicines in the U.S. remains a ‘systemic’ problem, a new analysis finds

The number of prescription drug shortages in the U.S. decreased by 23% last year, the lowest level since 2017, but the average shortage duration rose to 5.3 years, with 39% of shortages lasting over five years. The 75 drugs in short supply spanned 130 therapeutic categories, affecting diverse patient populations, according to an analysis by U.S. Pharmacopeia.