August 15, 2024
NEW: Shortage Drug Compounding Best Practices
You might have noticed that drug shortages — and the role compounding pharmacists play — have been in the news. Shortage-drug compounding is under the microscope like never before, which means we all need to exemplify the right kind of pharmacy.
We’ve put the details of how to do that in a single, 5-page PDF with a title that’s clear as a bell: Best Practices When Compounding FDA-Approved Drugs Listed in Shortage. And when we say “best practices,” we mean going beyond simply complying with laws and regs.
If you compound GLP-1s or any drug that’s in shortage you need to read this. It’s one click and just a few pages — but they’re critical pages. It covers a wide range of topics including drug sourcing and provider relations, the legal nuance of the FDA’s drug-shortage list, and ensuring your advertising and marketing is legal and ethical.
As APC Board Chair-Elect Gina Besteman of Belmar Pharma Solutions explained, “We developed these best practices to apply to all shortage drug compounding, and especially in this moment when so many are compounding GLP-1s. These serve as a reminder about what compliance and care look like.”
To paraphrase the Police, “Every move you make, every step you take, they’ll be watching you.” Make sure they see those best practices in action. (Even better, spread the word. See “CCH: Are you sure you’re telling the right story?” below.)
And don’t forget: This document goes beyond today’s media-grabbing shortages. “The need for pharmacies to prepare copies of FDA-approved drugs when the drug is in shortage existed well before the advent of GLP-1s,” Besteman said, “and it will continue long after this current shortage ends.”
