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HDMA LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT
TO ELECTRONIC ANTI-COUNTERFEIT SOLUTIONS AFFIRMED BY FDA AND PhRMA ANNOUNCEMENTS
Arlington VA (May 20, 2005) – The Healthcare
Distribution Management Association (HDMA), the national association representing
primary
healthcare distributors, commends the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) and the
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) for
their support of electronic track and trace systems as a key component
of the overall strategy
to improve the safety and security of the national drug supply.
HDMA has been actively working to promote industry-wide education
and awareness of electronic
solutions that can be used to further secure the U.S. pharmaceutical
supply since 2001.
The FDA and PhRMA both issued statements this week advocating for
the industry-wide adoption of electronic solutions to secure drug products.
“HDMA strongly believes that technologies such as EPC/RFID play an important
role in securing the prescription drug supply, though we agree with FDA and
PhRMA that no single solution will prevent drug counterfeiting” said
HDMA President and CEO John M. Gray. “HDMA will continue to work in
tandem with our distributor members, manufacturers, pharmacies
and lawmakers to develop and implement a multi-pronged anti-counterfeiting
approach that
will provide a safe and reliable supply of prescription drugs for
patients.”
For several years, HDMA has worked to drive the adoption, implementation,
and utilization of EPC/RFID technology at all levels in the supply
chain. To encourage support for technology-based anti-counterfeiting solutions,
HDMA
has and will continue to spearhead broad-based task forces that bring
together leaders in both industry and government.
“It is critical that all members of the healthcare supply chain work
together to develop consistent infrastructures, business practices and government
regulations that support the unique identification, tracking and tracing of
product information throughout the supply chain,” continued Gray. “HDMA
and its members are committed to working toward the implementation
of effective pedigree systems. EPC/RFID, for example, will enable
manufacturers to serialize
drug products at the item level, permitting the entire supply chain
to track product movement electronically, making it far easier
to spot and quarantine
suspicious products in the prescription drug supply well before
they reach consumers.”
Electronic track and trace solutions are just one part of the overall
strategy to reduce counterfeiting incidents. HDMA has been petitioning
states across the United States to crack down on criminals who
seek to obtain drug
distribution licenses, and has been leading the call for stricter
licensing, stronger regulations, tougher penalties and best business
practices to help
secure the nation’s medicine supply. For more information on this
and other HDMA-led anti-counterfeit initiatives, please visit www.HealthcareDistribution.org.
About HDMA
The Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA) and its members
are committed to patient safety by delivering life-saving health products
and services through a secure and efficient healthcare distribution system.
These primary healthcare distributors, representing more than 90 percent
of the distribution system, are responsible for ensuring that billions
of units of medication are safely delivered -- to tens of thousands of
retail pharmacies, nursing homes, clinics and providers -- in all 50 states.
For more than 125 years, HDMA and its members have been the vital link
in the healthcare system that is responsible for medicine safety, quality,
integrity and availability in the marketplace. Through leadership on public
policy and industry best practices, HDMA and its members focus on providing
value, removing costs and developing innovative solutions to deliver care
safely and effectively.
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