HDMA APPLAUDS THE NOMINATION OF DR. MARGARET HAMBURG AS COMMISSIONER OF THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

Arlington, VA – March 16, 2009 –The Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA), the national association representing primary healthcare distributors, commends President Barack Obama on his nomination of Dr. Margaret Hamburg as Commissioner, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
                                                  
“We applaud the nomination of Dr. Hamburg and look forward to working closely with her over the coming months and years to further ensure the safety, reliability, and availability of pharmaceuticals and other healthcare products regulated by the FDA and distributed by HDMA members,” said HDMA President and CEO John M. Gray.  “At this challenging time for our nation’s medicine supply, the FDA requires strong leadership and a commitment to bipartisan, realistic solutions on behalf of patients.  We are pleased Dr. Hamburg brings those qualities to this critically important position.”

“If confirmed, Dr. Hamburg would bring valuable public and private sector experience to her new post, including expertise in public health, emergency preparedness and supply chain operations – all critical areas of importance to the FDA and HDMA members.  With the healthcare distribution industry’s focus on ensuring the safety, value and efficiency of its sophisticated and complex supply chain, we will work closely with Commissioner Hamburg and the FDA on priority issues for our membership, including enactment and implementation of a uniform federal pedigree standard, development of feasible risk mitigation strategies and other initiatives to further protect and promote the public health,” continued Gray.

About HDMA
The Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA) is the national association representing primary, full-service healthcare distributors. Each business day, the member companies of HDMA are responsible for ensuring that more than eight million prescription medicines and healthcare products are safely delivered to 145,000 pharmacies, hospitals, nursing homes, physician offices, clinics, government and other providers in all 50 states. This essential public health function is provided with tremendous efficiency, saving the nation’s healthcare system nearly $32 billion each year. HDMA and its members are the vital link in the healthcare system, working daily to provide value, remove costs and develop innovative solutions to deliver care safely and effectively.