Healthcare Supply Chain Association (HSCA) President and CEO Todd Ebert, R.Ph., today released the following statement encouraging the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to take critical steps to ease current shortages of injectable opioids:

“Hospitals and other healthcare providers are currently experiencing critical shortages of a number of injectable opioid medications – including morphine, hydromorphone, and fentanyl – that are an essential element of treatment for post – surgical and medical pain management. Without the necessary opioids available, many medical procedures would have to be postponed or cancelled, jeopardizing the wellbeing of patients across the country. Controlling narcotics use – particularly outpatient prescription opioid abuse – remains a public health priority that HSCA supports.”