As Rx Response responds to national-scale disasters and public health threats, federal agencies are almost always heavily engaged alongside state agencies in responding to public health emergencies. Therefore, it is critical that Rx Response have strong relationships with any federal agencies responsible for protecting public health and responding to emergency, terrorist or pandemic situations.
Over the past few years, Rx Response has built relationships with Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Justice (DOJ), and representatives of other federal departments and agencies to identify and address any barriers to bio-pharmaceutical supply chain protection and response. Most recently, federal agencies worked closely with Rx Response to respond to the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, further forging these relationships and bolstering joint response efforts. Rx Response’s relationships with these agencies have strengthened recently due to a federal effort to identify and protect Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources (CIKR).
Because bio-pharmaceutical medicines are essential to saving lives, the organizations within Rx Response play a crucial role in the healthcare system critical infrastructure. In addition, Rx Response Director Erin Mullen serves as one of the current Co-Chairs for the Healthcare Sector Coordinating Council (HSCC), a private-sector led initiative committed to preparing for, responding to, and recovering from significant events that impact the nation's healthcare system. Dr. Mullen also represents healthcare in cross-sector planning with the Partnership for Critical Infrastructure Security (PCIS) and National Council of ISACs (Information Sharing and Analytical Centers). Dr. Mullen's participation in all these organizations not only increases Rx Response's partnership across the emergency preparedness and response communities, but also helps facilitate cross-sector coordination and communication as well. Please click on the logos below for additional information.
As part of the information-sharing and collaborative effort, Rx Response encourages all federal agency representatives concerned with the protection of the bio-pharmaceutical supply chain to register for InfoCenter, Rx Response’s online forum that supports information sharing and problem solving during potential or realized public health emergencies. During such emergencies, all relevant registered agency representatives receive situation reports compiled by Rx Response that captures the event’s impact on the bio-pharmaceutical supply chain.