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Disaster Response
When disaster strikes, people need medical care, and they need medicine. That reality was never more apparent than after Hurricane Katrina pummeled the Gulf Coast in 2005. Companies across the United States donated refrigerated insulin, vaccines, antibiotics, antiseptics, over-the-counter pain relievers, and a wide range of other medicines and supplies and monetary donations.
But Hurricane Katrina exposed communications weaknesses both among private-sector organizations in the biopharmaceutical supply chain and between the private sector and public agencies that are involved in emergency response. Reacting to the lessons learned during that disaster, PhRMA in 2006 spearheaded the creation of Rx Response.
Rx Response is a single point of contact and robust network of partners aimed at helping emergency responders and public health officials communicate needs during natural disasters, terrorist attacks or pandemics. The network supports the continued delivery of critical medicines to patients through its role as an information-sharing and problem-solving forum.
Rx Response members continually monitor news media across the United States to identify potential or realized threats to public health and engage Rx Response as soon as possible. This response often can be pre-emergency, if forewarning permits.
The program continues to develop innovative ways for partners to share critical information internally and with the general public. These include InfoCenter -- Rx Response's online information-sharing forum -- and the Pharmacy Status Reporting Tool, which enables those in affected areas to determine the closest open pharmacy in a specific location during a public health emergency.
The Rx Response Coordinating Body convenes when a severe public health emergency arises or is expected. In addition to PhRMA, the body’s membership includes these other Rx Response partners:
- American Hospital Association
- American Red Cross
- Biotechnology Industry Organization
- Generic Pharmaceutical Association
- Healthcare Distribution Management Association
- National Association of Chain Drug Stores
- National Community Pharmacists Association
News
Rx Response Five Years After Hurricane Katrina
Members of the Rx Response coalition reflect upon the lessons learned since Hurricane Katrina and the accomplishments of Rx Response. “Those of us who developed Rx Response take pride in knowing that when the next disaster strikes, we will be able to help the affected community get back on its feet much faster by helping to get medicine to patients in need,” Rx Response director Erin Mullen said.
Pharmaceutical Companies Donate To Haiti Relief
America’s pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies donated tens of millions of dollars in medicines, medical supplies and cash to relief efforts after the devastating Haiti earthquake in January 2010. PhRMA member-company employees also made donations, and many companies committed to matching the pledges of their workers.
Resources
Safe Drug Use After A Natural Disaster
Fire, flooding and unsafe water can negatively impact drug products. The Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research provides information and recommendations about what to do when medicines are affected by natural disasters. The agency also has addressed other drug-related concerns that arise during such disasters.
