Navigating Drug Shortages in Obstetric Care

The number of long-duration drug shortages in the United States is increasing annually. These shortages may pose significant risks to patients by compromising or delaying care. They also pose challenges to health care systems by creating operational and financial strain. To minimize the effect on patient care, health care professionals and systems need to establish mechanisms to prepare in advance for drug shortages. In this clinical perspective, we explore the definition of drug shortage, causes of drug shortage, prediction of drug shortage, and potential responses to drug shortage. We additionally review the causes and responses to shortages of five drugs specific to obstetric care. In this era of frequent and unanticipated drug shortages, it is crucial to build the necessary teams and systems to respond to the next drug shortage to protect the health and safety of pregnant people.