Like most complex things, and I suspect there is little more complex than national pharmaceutical production and distribution, there is no one single cause. But it seems the FDA under Obama is really making life difficult for pharma manufacturers, with unsurprising results.
This article from last year discusses the issue and has some links:
Regulation, The FDA, And Shortages Of Hospital Drugs
http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/regulation-the-fda-and-shortages-of-hospital-drugs/
And here is a current example of what the Cato article talks about:
Drug shortage feared after generics maker Sandoz suspends production
http://www.canada.com/Drug+shortage+feared+after+generics+maker+Sandoz+suspends+production/6176236/story.html
“Sandoz was forced to reduce production and begin upgrading its facilities after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cited it for various deficiencies relating to the safety and reliability of its production methods.”
Now everyone wants safe and efficacious meds. But it seems clear from reading news stories on this that the FDA has really upped their requirements, and with predictable effects. Well, predictable to anyone with a clue, which may not include FDA bureaucrats.
BTW, ping to the whole thread. Didn’t you used to be in pharma? Any comments?