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HDMA COMMENDS DEPARTMENT
OF JUSTICE FOR ARRESTS OF ROGUE INTERNET OPERATORS
PRESIDENT AND CEO JOHN GRAY
STRESSES ASSOCIATION’S
CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO PATIENT SAFETY
Reston, VA — April 22, 2005 — “The Healthcare Distribution
Management Association (HDMA) strongly supports the United States
Department of Justice (DoJ) and their continuing and successful efforts
to capture
and arrest criminals involved in the sale of illegal and unapproved
pharmaceutical products,” said John M. Gray, HDMA President and CEO.
The DoJ reported on April 20 that it arrested 16 suspects in an effort
to thwart
drug counterfeiting and illegal trafficking over the Internet.
HDMA believes every effort must be taken to ensure that no counterfeit,
adulterated or otherwise tampered-with drugs enter the marketplace
through any point in the healthcare system. An over-riding responsibility
of our
nation’s healthcare distributors, with their supply chain partners,
is to ensure the safety, quality and integrity of the products
they distribute.
HDMA has a solid history of working with supply
chain partners, state and federal lawmakers and regulators to
advocate for stricter
pharmaceutical licensing and regulations, new technologies to
track and
trace products
and industry guidelines for maintaining supply chain integrity.
HDMA
has been proactive on a number of security fronts and in early
2004, the association developed security principles for
providers of Internet pharmacy services.
HDMA also has led the healthcare distribution industry in recommending
anti-counterfeit measures. Efforts have included:
- Throughout 2002, HDMA worked with Florida’s Department of Health
and the state legislature to enact legislation that strengthened
the state’s
counterfeiting penalties.
- In early 2003, HDMA partnered with
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Auto-ID
Center to promote education and awareness
of Electronic Product Code (EPC) as a powerful anti-counterfeiting
technology.
- In August 2003, HDMA held the first meeting of the
Product Safety Task Force. This task force recommended multi-pronged
anti-counterfeit solutions, including track and trace technology.
- HDMA
approved in November 2003 a position statement calling for
RFID/EPC adoption in healthcare, noting that the technology
has the greatest potential to secure the supply chain from
counterfeit drugs.
- In November 2003, HDMA developed its Recommended Guidelines
for Pharmaceutical Distribution System Integrity. These Guidelines
raise the standard of practice throughout the distribution
system by recommending drug purchasers conduct tough due diligence, thorough
background checks
and on-site inspections of sellers of prescription drugs.
- In November
2003, HDMA commented to the FDA and recommended electronic
track and trace solutions, stronger state licensure
laws, increased penalties for counterfeiting and industry-wide
adoption of best business
practices as key provisions necessary to combat criminals tainting
the U.S. prescription drug supply.
- HDMA and EPCglobal in January
2004 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) calling for
both groups explore the potential benefits and
applications of EPC technology in the pharmaceutical supply
chain.
- HDMA
in February 2004 joined Project Jumpstart, a group that develops
EPC technology pilots in the healthcare supply chain.
- In April
2004, HDMA testified before the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy
and recommended the Board implement stronger penalties
for the crime of counterfeiting.
- In September 2004, HDMA joined
the NABP’s National Drug Advisory
Coalition, and helped develop the criteria used to determine
a national list of products susceptible to counterfeiting.
- In February
2005, HDMA President and CEO John Gray testified before
the Senate HELP Committee on the safety and security of
the supply chain, emphasizing the association’s commitment
to patient health and safety.
About HDMA
For more than 125 years, HDMA has worked with members to secure a safe,
efficient and reliable healthcare distribution system that is able to
provide life-saving health products and services. HDMA members are responsible
for ensuring that billions of units of medication are safely delivered
to tens of thousands of retail pharmacies, hospitals, nursing homes,
clinics and other provider sites in all 50 states in the most efficient
manner possible. HDMA members are a vital link in the healthcare system,
providing highest-quality solutions that remove costs and empower providers
to deliver care more effectively. Through our advocacy activities, HDMA
operates at the forefront of healthcare and ensures that members’ perspectives
and businesses are understood and addressed in legislative and regulatory
arenas. |
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