Washington, D.C. – In an effort to counter any adverse impacts on the U.S. pharmaceutical supply system from the March 11th Japan earthquake and tsunami, Rx Response officials are closely monitoring the situation for potential impacts on the US pharmaceutical supply. Officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are also monitoring the situation and have turned to Rx Response officials with requests for information. To date, no disruptions have occurred but Rx Response officials are keeping a close eye on the situation.

Rx Response Director Erin Mullen and her staff, have participated in conference calls with the PhRMA Office in Japan, the trade association representing US research based drug manufacturers in Japan. During these calls, Mullen has served as a subject matter expert on emergency management and disaster response. She has also tapped her expertise as a pharmacist to discuss protocols for treating radioactive exposure and contamination.

The disaster has created significant challenges for the Japanese pharmaceutical supply system as hospitals that remain open are reporting shortages of critical medicines and rolling blackouts are having significant impact on drug production: some drugs, for example, require a continuous manufacturing process and are simply not interruptible.

While Rx Response is focused solely on U.S. events, the organization monitors global disasters that have the potential to impact the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain. Rx Response also fields requests from member organizations and others about how companies and individuals can support disaster-stricken areas.

The American Red Cross, an Rx Response Coordinating Body member, is supporting response efforts in Japan and further information, including how to donate to their efforts, is available at www.redcross.org. Non-governmental organizations that are experienced in medicine delivery in international response include members of the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations (www.pqmd.org).

“One of the greatest challenges for emergency managers and public health officials responding to a major disaster is dealing with the large influx of medical donations that often are not what is needed to address the needs of survivors,” said Rx Response’s Mullen. “By working with the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations, organizations can be assured that their generosity will have the greatest possible impact.”

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