Recovering from Sandy but in need of vital medication? RxResponse is here to help.
In the wake of disasters such as hurricane Sandy, patients can find out online if their pharmacy is open and accessible by using RxResponse.
Rx Response helps get critical medicines to patients whose health is threatened by a severe public health emergency, such as a natural disaster, terrorist attack, or pandemic, by sharing information and problem-solving for a coalition of bio-pharmaceutical supply chain organizations, disaster relief agencies and local, state and federal government agencies.
Read MoreThe following guest blog is provided by Elizabeth A. Gallenagh, Esq., Vice President,
Government Affairs and General Counsel of the Healthcare Distribution
Management Association (HDMA), a PSM member.
The opinions expressed are not necessarily PSM’s policy.
The
U.S. healthcare supply chain remains one of the strongest in the world, but it
is not immune to bad actors and incidents that compromise patient safety and
security. For example, in the past year alone we have seen major headlines of
counterfeit Avastin reaching patients and “gray market” profiteers.
John Castellani, President and Chief Executive Officer, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and Ralph G. Neas, President and Chief Executive Officer, Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA), took the dais together at the Partnership for Safe Medicines 2012 Interchange on September 28, 2012 to discuss the risks of counterfeits to patient safety.
In February and March 2012, the Food and Drug Administration announced fake cancer drugs had infiltrated the secure US drug supply chain. The investigation into who sold these drugs to US doctors in ongoing.
Seventy-six doctors in twenty-two states were contacted by the FDA because they may have purchased counterfeit Avastin from a “little-known drug wholesaler, Montana Healthcare Solutions,” reported the Wall Street Journal.
The Partnership for Safe Medicines’ 2012 Interchange on September 28th, 2012 at the National Press Club brought together researchers, patient advocates, law enforcement and industry to discuss the damage counterfeit medications and fake online pharmacies cause to Americans. “This year’s Interchange was our boldest, most ambitious effort to date,” said PSM President Dr. Marvin D.…
Read More100 Countries Participate in Operation Pangea V’s Worldwide
Crackdown on Fake Pharmacies and Drugs
The Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM) is extremely pleased with the conclusion of Operation Pangea V, a worldwide, coordinated sting operation targeting illegal online pharmacies that has yielded spectacular results.
Coordinated by INTERPOL, Pangea V ran from September 25 through October 2 and was a global effort involving the cooperation of law enforcement, customs, health officials and the private sector.
Read MoreFDA launches BeSafeRx, a national campaign to make online pharmacy shopping safer, warning consumers that 97% of pharmacies online don’t adhere to state and federal laws.
In a report carried by the Washington Post, FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg has announced a new consumer education campaign, aimed at protecting the American consumer from counterfeit drugs.
Read MoreU.S. FDA Commissioner Hamburg Urges Physicians,
Patients to Only Purchase Medicines from Reliable Sources to
Better Protect Against Fake Drugs
Washington, D.C. (September 28, 2012) – The Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM)
today convened leading domestic and international stakeholders in the fight
against counterfeit and substandard medicines, making a renewed commitment to
work together and implement new solutions to protect
patients worldwide. U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Margaret
Hamburg, in a keynote to the conference, highlighted new efforts her agency is
undertaking to reduce the threat and pledged the FDA’s ongoing support to
ensure a safe U.S. drug supply.
Dr. Margaret Hamburg, FDA Commissioner, addressed the Interchange in her keynote speech. Hamburg said that "We need to work together to stay ahead of the many avenues that criminals are finding that are putting the health and safety of American citizen's at risk." Calling them 21st Century snake oil peddlers, Hamburg said that FDA has…
Read MoreGerald W. Heddell, Director of Inspection, Enforcement & Standards Division at the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in the UK, was introduced by Brian Finlay, Senior Associate and Director of Managing Accross Boundaries at The Stimson Center. Heddell began his talk with a map of recent counterfeit incidents worldwide. And then said, "Since I made this…
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