Maintaining Access to Lifesaving Medicines
Pharmaceutical distributors are crucial for ensuring access to lifesaving supplies during emergencies. Distributors prepare for disasters and disease outbreaks, knowing that their ability to maintain operations is critical for response and recovery. By collaborating with partners, distributors focus on continuing operations, using the industry’s logistics expertise to support communities in need. HDA advocates for increased public-private collaboration in decision-making, healthcare workforce investment, and emergency preparedness.
 | Distributors Are Vital Partners During EmergenciesDuring an emergency, distributors are uniquely positioned to support relief efforts, all while continuing the routine delivery of critical medical products. Their logistics expertise, geographic dispersion, extensive networks and data analytics capabilities allow these organizations to serve as valuable government partners, forecast resource allocation, respond to evolving situations and needs as well as triage the crisis impact to determine optimal response plans. |
PAHPA Reauthorization
HDA supports a bipartisan reauthorization of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA). PAHPA plays a critical role in strengthening the authorities needed to prepare and respond to public health emergencies and emerging infectious disease threats. HDA believes PAHPA answers the key question of who holds what responsibility during a public health emergency.
During previous public health emergencies, distributors were committed to working with public and private partners on preparedness and response by distributing vaccines and therapeutics. Please view HDA’s materials on the PAHPA reauthorization.
View Our MaterialsLogistics Expertise To Support Public Health Crises
Pharmaceutical distributors provide lifesaving support to combat emerging public health challenges, like the COVID-19 pandemic, all while fulfilling the daily healthcare needs of Americans.
With the federal government and healthcare supply chain engaged in one of the largest public immunization efforts in recent memory, HDA distributor members have worked tirelessly to navigate the demands of the nationwide COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Our members are delivering vaccines to pharmacy and provider partners so they can put shots in arms, and amplifying efforts that address vaccine hesitancy and encourage immunizations. Through their logistics expertise, HDA members are finding the most efficient ways to reliably deliver COVID-19 therapeutics, antivirals and boosters, as directed by the federal government.
Distributor Insights Should Inform Decision-MakingHDA supports greater inclusion of healthcare distributors in conversations that guide health supply chain policy and increased execution of public-private aggregated data sharing agreements during emergencies. HDA and our members also support partnerships and initiatives to build resilience plans. HDA members have previously supported efforts to store, manage and distribute essential medical products, specifically the Strategic National Stockpile. HDA is in favor of a broader shift to an expanded vendor-managed inventory model for stockpiling to better prepare for supply chain shocks while also strengthening the resilience of vendors across the country. |
 | Government Should Rely on Private-Sector Health Partners and InfrastructureHDA encourages the U.S. government to use private-sector networks and healthcare infrastructure during public health emergencies to relieve public sector stress and bolster response capacity, especially in under-resourced areas. The U.S. government should also evaluate successful public-private partnerships set in place before and during COVID-19, such as The Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise and the Supply Chain Control Tower to plan future mechanisms. |
Supporting the Supply Chain Workforce Is ParamountHDA believes it is essential to support and protect the healthcare workforce. It is equally important to promote policies that maintain the supply, production and delivery of medical necessities. The private and public sectors must continue to use or consult distribution strategies that maximize employee safety while also ensuring the continuation of critical business and supply chain functions. Additionally, building coordination points within different actors in the supply chain to better support, understand and address their respective concerns could help to maintain operations and proper communication. |  |
Natural Disasters and Unexpected Emergencies Happen
It has never been more important for the government to have effective partners for relief efforts. HDA members are ready to continue serving as a vital partner to government in times of calm and crisis.
Partnership with Healthcare Ready
HDA is a member of Healthcare Ready, a nonprofit organization that leverages relationships with government, nonprofit and healthcare supply chain stakeholders to build and enhance the resilience of communities before, during, and after disasters.
Resources
The resources below address the industry’s approach to supporting access to lifesaving medications during public health emergencies, natural disasters and other crises.
- Letter to House and Senate Leadership on PAHPA Reauthorization
- Letter to House Energy and Commerce Committee on Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act Reauthorization
- Letter to Senate HELP Committee on Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act Reauthorization
- HDA Letter to Chairman Alexander on "Preparing for the Next Pandemic" White Paper
- HDA Letter to HHS Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
- HDA Letter to Senate HELP Committee, House Energy and Commerce Committee, and House and Senate Leadership
- Healthcare Supply Chain Resilience and Data Illumination
- Emergency Preparedness - HDA Member Contact List by Company
- HDA Guiding Principles for Increasing Supply Chain Resilience (Executive Summary)
- Supply Chain Resilience Assessment: High-Level Summary and Recommendations (Executive Summary)
- The Path Forward: Transitioning From the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
- Weathering the Storm (Infographic)
- HDA Response to HELP Discussion Draft on PAHPA
- PAHPA: Background and Opportunities to Enhance Resilience
- PAHPA Reauthorization: High-Level Summary and Recommendations
- HDA Submission to Senate HELP PAHPA RFI
- Fact Sheet: How Distributors Are Supporting a Resilient Pharmaceutical Supply Chain During COVID-19
- Fact Sheet: Pharmaceutical Cold Chain Logistics
- Fact Sheet: Pharmaceutical Distributors Respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic
- The First 90 Days: US Biopharmaceutical Finished Goods Supply Chain Response to COVID-19 (Report)
- HDA Guiding Principles for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
- HDA Principles for Pandemic and Public Health Emergency Response
- HDA Letter to CDC to Support Vaccine Distribution
- HDA Letter to Pharmacy Organizations on Inventory Management
Our Advocacy Work on Behalf of Members
HDA reviews key priority issues and advocates on behalf of its pharmaceutical distributor members in areas like standards, public policies and business processes. HDA members have a powerful, unique voice and perspective and an opportunity to help educate lawmakers and inform public policy.
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