Most primary care physicians say drug shortages hurt care quality: Survey

Becker's Healthcare January 9, 2026
Erica Cerutti

The majority of primary care physicians report that drug shortages affect the quality of patient care and increase administrative burdens, according to new research published in JAMA Network Open.

The cross-sectional survey, conducted by researchers from the American Medical Association, collected responses from 902 U.S. primary care physicians between July and August 2024. Eighty-eight percent of respondents said they had experienced a drug shortage in the past six months.

Three key findings from the survey:

1. Eighty-seven percent said drug shortages negatively affected care quality. Among this group, 92% reported responding by altering the drug of choice, while 63% said they postponed prescribing.
2. Drug categories linked to the...

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