Patients with cancer in the United States are facing a critical issue as they are forced to wait over a year for life-saving medication, which costs just $10, due to record-high drug shortages. The average wait time for a drug on the national shortage list has reached 15 months, indicating a dire situation for those in need of essential medications.

The impact of these shortages is exemplified in the story of the Bray family from Florida. In 2018, their nine-year-old daughter Abby was diagnosed with life-threatening leukemia. Despite having great doctors and an effective treatment plan, the hospital ran out of the crucial drugs that were keeping her alive, leaving the family in a state of distress and uncertainty.

Laura Bray, Abby’s mother, expressed her shock when the oncologist suggested taking her daughter home and waiting for the medication to become available again. The fear of the cancer returning due to missed treatment sessions was a significant concern for Laura, shedding light on the real and pressing consequences of these drug shortages.

Tragically, the Bray family’s experience is not an isolated case. Families across the country have been affected by the devastating impact of drug shortages, leading to preventable deaths and prolonged suffering. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists reported a staggering 30% increase in drug shortages in 2023, reaching a record high of 309 shortages. This alarming trend has left patients with aggressive blood cancers, deadly pneumonia, and mental illness waiting for vital medications, with an average wait time of 15 months for drugs on the shortage list.

Furthermore, more than 15 of these essential drugs have been in short supply for over a decade, far surpassing the average shortage duration of 1.5 years. This prolonged unavailability of critical medications has created a dire situation for patients and their families, highlighting the urgent need for effective solutions to address these shortages and ensure timely access to life-saving treatments.