On September 20, a coalition of health care leaders will host a summit, “Drug Shortages as a Matter of National Security: Improving the Resilience of the Nation’s Health Care Critical Infrastructure.” The meeting will examine vulnerabilities in the supply chain, US dependence on foreign-sourced pharmaceutical ingredients, disaster planning and response efforts, and risk factors associated with pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution.

The invitation-only summit is being convened by the American Hospital Association (AHA), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), ASHP (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists), and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) at ASA’s Washington, DC, headquarters.

“These unprecedented and dangerous shortages of drugs are affecting 98% of physician anesthesiologists across the country with potential serious consequences to our patients’ safety and quality of care,” said ASA President James D. Grant, MD, MBA, FASA. “At this summit, we will work with important stakeholders on this issue to stimulate preparedness and response efforts and explore the potential national security risk posed by these shortages.”

The daylong meeting will bring together representatives from clinician groups, industry and supply chain entities, and government officials to discuss weaknesses in the production and supply chain infrastructure and risks of dependency on foreign-sourced pharmaceutical ingredients. Participants will identify supply chain vulnerabilities, define the roles and responsibilities of the public and private sectors for preparing for and responding to shortages, and propose solutions to ensure supply chain security and continuity in the event of a disaster or attack.

“The persistent shortages of critical, lifesaving medications already dangerously interfere with patient care and place a tremendous strain on daily operations in hospitals across the country,” said ASHP CEO Paul W. Abramowitz, PharmD, ScD, (Hon), FASHP. “We look forward to working with the summit participants to develop actionable solutions that will ensure that patients can depend on a secure and stable supply of medications.”

—Newswise