TAMPA, Fla. — According to information from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the United States is dealing with the most serious drug shortage it has seen in more than 20 years.

The ASHP currently reports that there is a shortage of 323 different drugs, which is the highest number the group has seen since 2001, when it started tracking shortages.

“Almost every month there is a new drug being added to that long list of drugs on shortage,” said Dr. Bichoy Gabra, infusion pharmacy manager at Moffitt Cancer Center.

Pharmacies and pharmacists say they are working to manage their inventory in the midst of the shortage. Gabra has watched that list grow to include more than 30 cancer drugs.

“Many of these drugs are used for curative intent,” he said. “This means they cure cancer in certain patients. Examples would be carboplatin and cisplatin. These drugs cure cancer in lung patients in breast cancer patients, gynecological patients.”

According to the ASHP, additional drugs included in the list of shortages help treat a variety of other cancers, are emergency medications on hospital crash carts, hormone agents and ADHD treatments, among others.

“Some of them (are) related to a shortage in raw material," Gabra said. "Some of them related to some manufacturer switching production lines. Others (are) related to manufacturer dropping product altogether."

Gabra said that so far, Moffitt has been able to manage.

“For newly-diagnosed patients, we’re just exploring different options of treatment," he said. "We started them on drugs that are not on those list of shortage."

The American Cancer Society and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, among other organizations, are calling on Congress for policy change to find a solution to the shortfalls.