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HDMA CONTINUES THE FIGHT
AGAINST CRIMINALS WHO THREATEN PUBLIC SAFETY WITH COUNTERFEIT DRUGS
Stricter licensing, stronger regulations, tougher enforcement,
harsher penalties, new technologies are all critical to the safety
and security
of our nation’s medicine supply
Arlington VA (May 9, 2005) – The Healthcare
Distribution Management Association (HDMA), the leading association representing
full-service
healthcare distributors, today called on all links in the medicine
supply chain to work
together with government, regulators and law enforcement to ensure
that our national health system is safe and secure.
For years, HDMA has been petitioning states across the U.S. to crack
down on criminals who seek to obtain medical distribution licenses. HDMA has
been leading the call for stricter licensing, stronger regulations, tougher
penalties, best business practices and the use of new technologies to help
secure the medicine supply.
“One counterfeit drug is too many and these criminals must be stopped” said
John Gray, President and CEO of HDMA. “We represent legitimate businesses.
We have zero tolerance for these who counterfeit, and they should
be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. However, it is
important to know that there
is a clear difference between the legitimate business of distribution
and these criminals who thrive on figuring out ways to attack our
healthcare supply
chain.”
States currently have a patchwork of requirements that allow counterfeiters
to “shop” the states looking for the one that has the least
stringent requirements. HDMA urges state regulators to establish
consistent, uniform licensing requirements essential to the safety of the
entire
supply
chain.
In addition to rigorous, uniform licensing standards, HDMA believes pedigree
requirements should be strengthened with electronic track and trace
technology solutions such as EPC/RFID. Such technologies serialize
drug products at the
item level, and track product movement electronically, making it
far easier to spot and quarantine suspicious products in the prescription
drug supply
well before they reach consumers.
Manufacturers, distributors
and pharmacies should adopt security best practices that put patient
safety first. The HDMA
Board of Directors in November 2003 approved Recommended Guidelines
for Pharmaceutical Distribution System Integrity. These Guidelines
recommend collecting information
for potential business partners that would assure legitimacy. The
recommendations are very stringent, demonstrating HDMA distributor
member ongoing commitment
to preventing the market entry of counterfeit drugs.
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. |
