Tropical Storm Hanna raises concerns as Rx supply chain coalition responds

WASHINGTON Fast on the heels of Hurricane Gustav, Tropical Storm Hanna is the latest potential natural disaster to draw scrutiny from a coalition of retail pharmacy groups, pharmaceutical manufacturers and other health care groups.

The coalition, Rx Response, was set up by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the National Community Pharmacists Association, the Healthcare Distribution Management Association, the American Red Cross and other groups to help ensure the continued flow of medicine to patients in a severe public health emergency. In a statement, Rx Response said its members are closely monitoring Hanna, which is expected to regain hurricane status as it approaches the U.S. on Thursday.

To help residents in states potentially impacted by Hanna, Rx Response leaders are urging individuals to go to www.RxResponse.org to review preparation tips and to fill out a printable, wallet-size medication card. The medication card includes information about current medications, medical conditions and contact information for doctors, pharmacists and emergency contacts.

Through its members, including physicians and pharmacists, the coalition is also trying to alert consumers to take an adequate supply of medications during evacuations.

Rx Response is designed to be “a single point of contact for the entire pharmaceutical supply system and relies on a robust network that allows federal and state emergency management officials to communicate with Rx Response regarding pharmaceutical needs and other issues which may impact the supply system,” noted the group. “The communications are actively monitored by all segments of the pharmaceutical supply system to ensure the fastest possible resolution.”