Healthcare Distributors Stand Ready To Work With State Governments To Take On Influenza Pandemic Challenge

Main Category: Swine Flu
Also Included In: Flu / Cold / SARS;  Public Health
Article Date: 07 Oct 2009 - 8:00 PDT

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The Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA) recently sent a letter detailing the critical role of primary healthcare distributor members in the response to the H1N1 influenza pandemic. The letter was sent to more than 100 officials, including Governors and state Public Health Directors.

In the letter, HDMA stressed the importance of information sharing between the public and private sectors. The Association noted its distributor members' commitment to working closely with the CDC, state and local public health officials, healthcare providers, pharmacists and manufacturers to ensure that millions of antivirals and medical products are delivered safely and efficiently to pharmacies, physicians' offices and hospitals nationwide.

To facilitate the continuous flow of information between public health officials and HDMA distributor members, the Association provided a list of state-specific distributor company contacts, informing state officials that HDMA members are prepared to answer questions related to emergency preparedness efforts. The Association also clarified the distribution methods for antivirals and H1N1 vaccines and provided health officials with resources to help inform their response plans. HDMA further encouraged officials to participate in RxResponse, a public and private supply chain alliance dedicated to supporting the continued provision of medicines during a national emergency.

"The H1N1 outbreak last spring underscored that communication is key to maximizing our country's ability to respond to this public health emergency - across the entire healthcare supply chain, and especially with federal, state and local health officials," said John M. Gray, HDMA President and CEO. "HDMA members are working with all of these key players, to facilitate the safe and reliable delivery of needed vaccines, medicines and supplies to respond to the current influenza outbreak, as they have done for decades."

A copy of the letter, along with details of HDMA's efforts regarding response to H1N1, is available here.

Source
Healthcare Distribution Management Association