AHA-supported bills would create data, buffer to help prevent drug shortages

AHA recently voiced support for four bipartisan bills introduced in the Senate to help alleviate the nation’s chronic and growing drug shortages. 
 
The Mapping America’s Pharmaceutical Supply Act (S. 2364) would create a plan for the Food and Drug Administration and Department of Defense to map the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain, and use data analytics to identify and predict supply chain vulnerabilities and other national security threats. The Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Risk Assessment Act (S. 1961) also would require an interagency risk assessment of the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain to help avoid supply shortages and disruptions before they occur.  
 
The Rolling Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient and Drug Reserve Act (S. 2510) would award contracts to eligible generic drug makers that require them to maintain a six-month reserve of critical generic drugs and their active pharmaceutical ingredients to ensure adequate supply in the event of a shortage. The Drug Shortage Prevention Act (S. 2362) would require manufacturers to notify the FDA of increased demand for critical drugs and disruptions to the supply of their ingredients. 
 
“A strong and reliable pharmaceutical supply chain is a critical component to delivering safe, effective, high-quality care to patients. It has become increasingly clear that our national pharmaceutical supply chain is fragile, and that fragility poses significant risk to the patients and communities served by America’s hospitals and health systems,” AHA said in letters to the bills’ sponsors. “… We look forward to continued partnership with you and others as we strive to shore up the pharmaceutical supply chain.”