Hacker News Reader

Maybe this is the only way to reliably make available a drug that is used nationwide on average less than 5 times a year? Most hospitals wouldn’t stock a drug that they’d likely never use.

By keeping stock centralized at the FDA they can keep enough on hand and rubber stamp the exception.

View on HN

Keeping emergency stocks of rarely-used drugs is fine, but you don't have to make it illegal for anyone else to stock that drug to accomplish that.

Isn't the whole idea of requiring FDA approval to protect patients from harmful or ineffective drugs? If having and administering whatever drugs you wanted was legal, then how can anyone be protected? No doubt, they're still getting around to approving it but are just too slow and have this exception process precisely to save people's lives until they get it done properly.

Manufacturers, ask the FDA for approval. The FDA doesn't just go around approving drugs. surprisingly, I guess this is a common misunderstanding.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com