Overdose deaths, primarily related to the use of counterfeit pills, more than doubled from July to September, making it increasingly necessary for healthcare executives to monitor the pharmaceutical supply chain. October 2019-December 2021, According to the CDC.
of The FDA sought to address this issue by enacting the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), which went into effect in November. Still, healthcare executives need a self-sustaining and consistent strategy to monitor their pharmaceutical supply chains.
Gee Mathen, Director of Pharmacy Clinical Applications and Technical Services Texas Children's Hospital will address this issue in a session entitled “Combatting Counterfeit Drugs and the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Security Act” at the HIMSS Global Conference & Exhibition in Orlando next week.
Meisen shared some highlights from the upcoming session Mobi Health News He then shares what he hopes participants will take away from the discussion.
Mobi Health News: Can you share some highlights from the HIMSS24 session?
Gee Masen: My session will focus on how DSCSA impacts the reduction of counterfeit medicines in the healthcare sector. This session will focus on regulation and its importance. The global market has now completely shifted to how bad actors affect patient care, and this presentation highlights how the entire process from production to patient is affected. To do.
MHN: Are counterfeit medicines a big problem in the medical field?
Meissen: Counterfeit medicines are a serious problem in U.S. healthcare and pose a threat to public health. Although the exact percentage is unknown, it is estimated that counterfeit products have penetrated a significant portion of the U.S. pharmaceutical market.
These fake drugs often lack essential ingredients and are ineffective in treating the disease. In some cases, counterfeit medicines contain incorrect doses or harmful substances, which can lead to serious health complications.
Not only damage to individuals, but also counterfeit medicines Undermining legitimate pharmaceutical businesses and causing economic harm. The complex and global nature of the counterfeit trade makes it a difficult problem to address. Despite efforts to strengthen the U.S. drug supply chain, more steps must be taken to protect patients.
MHN: How important is DSCSA to ensure patient safety?
Meissen: The Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Security Act plays an important role in protecting patient safety by establishing a tracking system for prescription drugs throughout the supply chain.
The system allows the authenticity and origin of each drug to be verified and helps identify and prevent the distribution of counterfeit drugs. DSCSA reduces the risk of patients receiving ineffective or harmful counterfeit medicines by introducing stricter security measures within the supply chain.
Additionally, DSCSA strengthens traceability in the case of drug recalls, allowing authorities to quickly and effectively remove problematic drugs from the market. This increased traceability also makes it easier to investigate counterfeit drug transactions and could help stop these illegal activities.
Ultimately, this law will give patients greater confidence in the integrity and safety of the prescription drugs they receive.
Although enforcement of the DSCSA is ongoing, it is an important step forward in protecting patients from the dangers of counterfeit medicines and promoting a safer healthcare environment.
MHN: What do you hope participants will take away from your session?
Meissen: We hope this session highlights what we have learned in the process of tracking drug supply from manufacturing to patient. Gain insight into how technology plays a key role in preventing counterfeit medicines in today's systems.
The 2024 HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition will be held March 11-15, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. Check the details and register.
