RT Journal
A1 Mitka M
T1 DRug shortages
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 2011
FD November 9
VO 306
IS 18
SP 1970
OP 1970
DO 10.1001/jama.2011.1602
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2011.1602
AB 
On October 5, Rep Elijah E. Cummings (D, Md) sent letters to 5 companies, none of which manufacture drugs or treat patients, seeking information about how these companies obtain drugs and then sell them to hospitals, pharmacies, and patients. In the letters, Cummings cited an August 23 report by Premier Healthcare Alliance looking at 1700 offers of scarce drugs for sale sent from gray market companies to 42 acute care hospitals. The report found that the average markup for these drugs was 650% and that the largest markups were for drugs for critically ill patients, such as adults and children with cancer.