Trending News Today: Many Hospital Pharmacists Face At Least 50 Drug Shortages Yearly

A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests more than two-thirds of hospital pharmacists in the United States face at least 50 drug shortages each year, Reuters reported. According to the article, the study authors surveyed 719 pharmacists at large and small hospitals across the country in 2018. The findings showed that all of the pharmacists reported experiencing at least 1 drug shortage in the past year and 69% had dealt with at least 50 shortages in that time, the article reported.

The FDA proposed new rules that would standardize the information provided to women receiving mammograms, The Associated Press reported. According to the article, the proposed rule indicates that all US women receiving mammograms would be required to receive information about breast density, one of the factors that can increase a woman’s risk of developing cancer. More than 35 states already require some kind of notification for breast density, but the FDA’s proposal would apply to all states and set minimum standards, the article reported.

A proposed California bill would establish a system to monitor physicians who are granting medical exemptions for vaccinations, The Hill reported. According to the article, the bill would require the California state health department to vet each standardized medical exemption filled out by physicians and create a database of which doctors are granting the exemptions. There is currently no regulatory system to examine whether the exemptions are legitimate, the article reported.