National drug shortage affects Southern Wisconsin hospitals

A national drug shortage is forcing local doctors to reschedule surgeries. Area pharmacists said multiple drugs are in short supply. Although lives have not been threatened, elective surgeries have been rescheduled at Mercy Hospital and Trauma Center to ensure an adequate amount of needed drugs is available for emergencies, said Don Janczak, director of pharmacy at Mercy. More than 200 drugs are in short supply, Janczak said, and orders to drug wholesalers sometimes go unfilled or are filled only partially. (JANESVILLE GAZETTE, 11/21)