Report Finds Lax Oversight Of Specialty Pharmacies

 A congressional investigation finds that specialty pharmacies like the one that triggered a deadly meningitis outbreak last year get little state oversight.

    The new report from House Democrats shows that most states do not track or routinely inspect compounding pharmacies and that pharmacy boards in nearly all 50 states lack the information and expertise they need. No states indicated they track whether pharmacies sell compounded drugs in large quantities or across state lines.

    The findings come as lawmakers debate how to prevent another outbreak like the one caused by the Framingham-based New England Compounding Center, which has been blamed for more than 50 deaths.

The information also likely will come into play Tuesday when a House panel holds its second hearing on the outbreak. FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg is scheduled to testify. (Associated Press)