DrugShortages App Accelerates Public Access to Drug Shortage Information

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s new “DrugShortages” app gives the public access to important—and sometimes critical—drug shortage information easier and faster than ever before.

Drugs in short supply can delay or deny needed care for patients. Shortages may also lead health care professionals to rely on alternative drug products, which may be less effective or associated with higher risks than the drug in shortage.

The app uses a searchable database to provide real-time information to key stakeholders, including health care practitioners and pharmacists. It allows users to quickly identify current drug shortages, resolved shortages and discontinuations of drug products.

The app:

• Helps health care practitioners make quick decisions about patient treatment
• Allows users to search for a generic name or active ingredient, and browse by alphabetic list or therapeutic category
• Provides information on how to report a shortage or supply issue
• Links to other resources from FDA and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

The app is available for free download via iTunes or the App Store for Apple devices and the Google Play store for Android devices by searching “FDA Drug Shortages.”

You can download these and other cool mobile government apps with just a few clicks from our USA.gov Federal Mobile Apps Directory. Federal agencies can get their apps in the directory by using the Federal Mobile Products Registry.