Current TB Medication Shortages
Intermittently, medications including TB medications are experiencing limitations on supply for various reasons. And local wholesale distributors (ex., Cardinal or McKesson) may not have a supply on their shelves for pharmacies to order. Please place an order with your medication supplier or pharmacy, even if it has to be a backorder. Then request your pharmacy directly contact their supplier's sales representative letting them know that there is a backorder, and that the TB patient needs the medications as soon as possible. These backorders with the wholesale distributors will be communicated to the manufacturer, helping them to prioritize the production of the medication.
Local health jurisdictions (LHJs) can find more information about medications offered without cost by DOH on the TB Partners SharePoint site.
Check the national shortage database links below for more information:
- FDA Drug Shortages
Drug Shortages can occur for many reasons, including manufacturing and quality problems, delays, and discontinuations. Manufacturers provide FDA most drug shortage information. - Medical Device Shortages
FDA maintains a list of medical device shortages during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. (This list includes masks, syringes etc.,) - ASHP (American Society of Hospital Pharmacists) Drug Shortages Database
Another national database that tracks drug shortages. - Drugs.com
The Drugs.com website is owned and operated by Drugsite Limited, as trustee of the Drugsite Trust. Drugsite Limited is a privately owned company administered by two New Zealand Pharmacists. The Drugs.com website is intended for a U.S. audience and is hosted at a data center located in Dallas, TX, USA. The shortage database is free to use.
TB Medications available from DOH for LHJs
Using state Foundational Public Health Services funds (FPHS), DOH provides TB medications without cost to Washington’s LHJs active TB Disease patients. LHJ staff, please check the TB Partners Medications SharePoint page for more details. If you would like to access additional resources about TB medications or have questions, please email tbservices@doh.wa.gov.