12467 Ethical Challenges During Medication Scarcity

Abstract Disclosure: K. Seetharaman: None. R. Alvi: None. V. Roth: None. J. Maheswaran: None. Ethical considerations while rationing GLP-1 RA during medication scarcity crisis: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes and obesity have risen over the past decade. Type 2 diabetes affects nearly 29 million Americans, and one in 3 Americans are obese. Prompt treatment of type 2 diabetes can result in prevention and progression of several diabetes related complications. In the past 3 decades, advancements in scientific research has led to invention of newer therapeutic agents such as the glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) for management of type 2 diabetes and these medications have shown to provide cardiovascular benefit and renal protective effects. More recently, with increasing benefits of GLP-1 RA in treating obesity even in the absence of diabetes, the prescription rates of GLP-1 RA has increased sharply leading to acute medication scarcity and the resultant crisis has created a chaos in health care having multi-faceted repercussions.We present a short movie enacting 2 clinical scenarios with doctor and patients to initiate discussions on how to ration GLP-1 receptor agonists during times of medication scarcity crisis and the bioethical aspects to consider while making such decisions. We further include discussions by enacting pharmacy care coordinator, bioethicist, critique and defense discussion. Bioethics involved in medication scarcity crisis:https://hu-my.sharepoint.com/:v:/g/personal/kseetharaman_hsph_harvard_edu/EZIHpFRCgb5AsoKLk898TgUBsdp8JNjdAGQ6vOIpZIP1Qg?e=TkxRhz We hope our enacting of various scenarios has given you all valuable ethical perspectives to consider while rationing during times of medicine scarcity. References: National Diabetes statistics Report, https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/data/statistics-CNN, Oprah on why she turned to weight-loss drugs. from https://www.cnn.com/videos/health/2024/03/21/oprah-weight-loss-drugs-kc-vpx.cnn Persad G, Wertheimer A, Emanuel EJ. Principles for allocation of scarce medical interventions. Lancet. 2009 Jan 31;373(9661):423-31. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60137-9. Whitley HP, Trujillo JM, Neumiller JJ. Special Report: Potential Strategies for Addressing GLP-1 and Dual GLP-1/GIP Receptor Agonist Shortages. Clin Diabetes. 2023 Summer;41(3):467-473. doi: 10.2337/cd23-0023. Epub 2023 Diabetes medications as weight loss drugs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPEaLNpCzTY Presentation: 6/3/2024