NABP e-News March 7, 2007

NABP Testifies in Support of Maryland Wholesale Drug Distribution Legislation
NABP staff testified on March 1, 2007, before the Maryland House Health and Government Operations Committee in support of House Bill 1030. The legislation provides the Maryland Board of Pharmacy with the authority to establish a pedigree system and an inspection process for wholesale drug distributors. NABP’s position is that, coupled with effective rule promulgation by the Board of Pharmacy, the bill can take significant strides toward securing the drug distribution system against the threat of counterfeit drugs entering the medication distribution system, not just in the State of Maryland, but across the country. HB 1030 places Maryland in the company of many other states that are introducing wholesale distribution legislation this year, and 15 others that already have enacted such legislation, to combat this public health problem.

Federal Agencies Issue Guidelines for Proper Disposal of Prescription Drugs
The Federal government has issued new guidelines for the proper disposal of unused prescription drugs. The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Department of Health and Human Services, and Environmental Protection Agency jointly released the new guidelines, which are designed to reduce the diversion of prescription drugs, while also protecting the environment.

New Daylight Savings Time Dates May Cause Medical Equipment Problems
Food and Drug Administration issued a notice indicating that some medical devices/equipment, hospital networks, and associated information technology systems could generate adverse events because of the upcoming change in the start and end dates for Daylight Savings Time (DST), and suggested actions to prevent such occurrences. Medical equipment that uses, creates, or records time information about a patient's diagnosis or treatment and that has not been updated by the manufacturer may not work properly when the new DST starts three weeks earlier (March 11) and ends one week later (November 4) this year.

DEA Slates Pharmaceutical Training Seminars in South Carolina and Oregon
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Office of Diversion Control will hold four, two-day Pharmaceutical Training Seminars in spring 2007. The seminars will take place April 16-17 and April 18-19 at the Renaissance Charleston Hotel in Charleston, SC, and May 21-22 and May 23-24 at the Embassy Suites in Portland, OR. The four seminars, identical in content, will cover quotas, year-end reporting, Automation of Reports and Consolidated Orders System (ARCOS) reporting, import/export permits and declarations, and scheduled investigations, as well as the registration process for manufacturers and importers of Schedule I and II controlled substances.

Thirteen Facilities Awarded VAWD Accreditation
NABP recently accredited 13 new facilities through its Verified-Accredited Wholesale Distributors® (VAWD®) program, bringing the total number of accredited facilities to 72. A full listing of VAWD facilities is available on the NABP Web site.

  • Capital Wholesale Drug Company provides a full line of pharmaceutical supplies to pharmacies primarily located in Ohio. The company received accreditation for its Columbus, OH facility. Cardinal Health 110 dba Cardinal Health received accreditation for two of its facilities. The Aurora, IL and the Findlay, OH facilities provide a full line of pharmaceutical supplies to pharmacy entities.
  • Cardinal Health 108 dba Cardinal Health primarily supplies plasma and other blood related products to doctors, hospitals, and clinics. The company received accreditation for its LaVergne, TN facility.
  • H.D. Smith Wholesale Drug Company Health provides a full line of pharmaceutical supplies to pharmacy entities. The company received accreditation for its Louisville, KY facility.
  • Mohawk, Inc dba Mohawk Medical distributes equipment and supplies for hospitals, assisted living facilities, and home users. The company received accreditation for its Louisville, KY facility.
  • OTN Parent Corp dba Oncology Therapeutics Network is health care services and distribution firm focused on the needs of office-based oncology practices. The company received accreditation for its LaVergne, TN facility.
  • PCA, LLC is a distributor of pharmaceutical products to medical facilities and institutions. The company received accreditation for its Indianapolis, IN facility.
  • Quality Research Pharmaceuticals, Inc sells brand and generic pharmaceutical products to dispensing physicians in 22 states. The company received accreditation for its Carmel, IN facility.
  • Quest Pharmaceuticals, Inc distributes generic prescription and OTC items to independent pharmacies and a small number of physicians. The company received accreditation for its Murray, KY facility.
  • Seneca Medical, Inc provides medical surgical supplies, equipment, and complimentary support services for a variety of health care providers. The company received accreditation for its Shelbyville, IN facility.
  • Top Rx, Inc distributes a full line of generic pharmaceuticals. The company received accreditation for its Bartlett, TN facility.
  • AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation distributes prescription and over-the-counter products to pharmacies, hospitals, and practitioners. The company received accreditation for its Williamston, MI facility.

News Topics

Archives