Key Facts For The Supply Chain
Public health events occur regularly. It is important the country have consistent and sufficient funding for public health surveillance efforts, training and protection of healthcare workers and patients, vaccine and diagnostic development and invests in the healthcare supply chain which supports all these initiatives.
Medical products are critical to any emergency or pandemic response. Ensuring the elasticity of the supply chain is essential to a prepared national healthcare system and is stronger through a public and private partnership because all entities with a role in preparedness depend on the same supply chain.
Outlook
Through constructive dialogue the supply chain and governmental agencies can learn from past pandemics and implement programs to ensure that availability of certain types of medical products would meet immediate pandemic response needs. Creating a continuous and certain elevated level of demand for these types of products requires experience in warehousing, maintaining and refreshing product in a timely manner as well as logistical capabilities to redirect product if necessary.
HIDA Works To:
- Create government partnerships that foster coordination between medical products distributors and federal stakeholders, including the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services.
- Facilitate working relationships between members and other industry stakeholder organizations, including the American Hospital Association, the Red Cross, and the Joint Commission.
- Provide information and resources to distributors, healthcare providers and others. Resources including a listing of scenario-specific medical products and supplies, state emergency contacts, and emergency preparedness planning guides.
Medical products are critical to any emergency or pandemic response. Ensuring the elasticity of the supply chain is essential to a prepared national healthcare system and is stronger through a public and private partnership.