November 13, 2012
The Austin American-Statesman reports that funding for prescription drugs in Texas has decreased dramatically in recent years, leaving citizens more exposed to drug injury risks than ever before.
In 2007, the Texas State Board of Pharmacy was granted $50,000 per year to conduct random testing on drugs compounded by pharmacies, like the one connected with the nationwide fungal meningitis outbreak.
Over the last several years, funding has slipped by as much as 72 percent. In 2010, medications from more than 65 Texas pharmacies were tested for not only contamination, but also potency. The following year, the number plummeted to only 30 tests conducted because of budgetary issues. By August 2012, only 21 tests had been conducted.
Although the testing of compounded medications has decreased, the number of facilities manufacturing drugs has grown to 6,300 facilities and has laws overseeing the process has been relaxed. For example, a drug made by these facilities can have as much as a 10 percent discrepancy in its designed level of potency. These types of miscalculations have a potential for causing serious drug injury.
The Drug Injury Lawyers with Ferrer Poirot Feller Daniel understand the complexities of filing a claim for a drug injury and are here to answer any questions you may have regarding your legal rights if you have been caused harm by a medication given to you by a physician.