HDMA COMMENDS CONGRESSIONAL ENACTMENT OF FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION AMENDMENTS ACT (H.R. 3580)

House and Senate Take an Important First Step Toward Uniform Track-and-Trace Implementation

Arlington, VA – September 21, 2007 – HDMA commends the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate for passing the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act (H.R. 3580), which includes important provisions to enhance patient safety.  HDMA is also pleased that new authority has been provided to the FDA to establish standards for numerical identifiers that will facilitate the tracking and tracking of prescription medicines.

 “Patient safety is the first priority of our primary distributor members. As such, it is critical that manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies continue to work together and with the government to develop consistent systems that support the unique identification, tracking and tracing of products throughout the supply chain,” said HDMA President and CEO John M. Gray. “HDMA has been working for many years to encourage the implementation of effective track-and-trace systems to monitor, protect and enhance our secure supply chain against increasingly sophisticated criminals who may try to introduce counterfeit or diverted drugs into the legitimate supply chain.” 

HDMA members have worked with supply chain partners to conduct pilot programs and case studies to evaluate the most effective track-and-trace technologies. To encourage adoption of these technologies, HDMA will continue to support these efforts, as well as spearhead broad-based task forces with industry and government leaders to explore innovative business, policy and technology solutions that advance safety, security and efficiency.

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.