a Nokia smart phone
Photo by Halvard Lundgaard
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched the agency’s first mobile application (app) designed to speed public access to information on drug shortages.
The app provides details regarding current drug shortages, resolved shortages, and discontinued drug products.
It works just like the FDA’s drug shortages website. App users can search for a drug by its generic name or active ingredient, or they can browse by therapeutic category.
The app can also be used to report a suspected drug shortage or supply issue to the FDA.
The app is available for free download via iTunes (for Apple devices) and the Google Play store (for Android devices). It can be found by searching “FDA Drug Shortages.”
The FDA developed the app to improve access to information about drug shortages, as part of the agency’s efforts outlined in the Strategic Plan for Preventing and Mitigating Drug Shortages.
“The FDA understands that healthcare professionals and pharmacists need real-time information about drug shortages to make treatment decisions,” said Valerie Jensen, associate director of the Drug Shortage Staff in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
“The new mobile app is an innovative tool that will offer easier and faster access to important drug shortage information.”
