IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The End Drug Shortages Alliance, a newly launched collaboration of key stakeholders from across the health care industry, announced the appointment of its board of directors, including the chair and vice chair, as well as its mission and vision statements at its first all-member meeting. The meeting was held in the first quarter of 2022.
Eric Tichy, PharmD, MBA, FCCP, division chair, pharmacy supply solutions for Mayo Clinic was announced as board chair and Terri Wilson, RPh, CMTM, director, pharmacy, supply chain service at Children’s Hospital Association was announced vice chair.
"The Alliance has generated a lot of excitement from across the industry for resolving the persistent issue of drug shortages," said Tichy. "Our members come from different parts of the industry, but our goal is the same—ensuring providers have the medications they need for the patients they serve."
The number of active drug shortages in the U.S. has remained above 200 since 2018. As a result, patients and prescribers in the U.S. face disruption in accessing medications, sometimes impacting life-saving care. The End Drug Shortages Alliance was launched in November to address the ongoing crisis and more than 70 organizations have joined to date.
In addition to announcing the board of directors at the inaugural all-member meeting, the board also announced the alliance’s mission and vision statements:
Vision: “To end drug shortages through ensuring access to essential medications and improving quality of life for patients that rely on these medications.”
Mission: “An alliance of health systems, supply chain, industry and other stakeholders dedicated to solving pharmaceutical supply challenges by collaborating to increase visibility and access. Collectively we will end drug shortages through focus on transparency, communication, quality, redundancy and production of additional supply to achieve measurable and sustainable results.”
Proposed objectives include identifying essential medications at risk for supply disruption, creating a platform to share data on supply and demand as well as a platform to share drug mitigation strategies. The alliance also seeks to develop safety stock programs and best practices in drug shortage stewardship.
“The outpouring of support for the End Drug Shortages Alliance throughout the industry has been tremendous,” said Mittal Sutaria, Vizient senior vice president, pharmacy contract and program solutions and End Drug Shortages Alliance board member. “Solving drug shortages is within reach, and it will take the collective effort of the entire health care community to achieve it.”
Board members of the End Drug Shortages Alliance are:
- Laura Bray, BSBA, MBA, Chief Change Maker, Angels for Change
- Ilisa Bernstein, PharmD, JD, FAPhA, Senior Vice President, Pharmacy Practice and Government Affairs, American Pharmacists Association (APhA)
- Jason Chou, PharmD, MS, System Assistant Vice President, Pharmacy Operations, Ochsner Health
- Stephen Colvill, BS, Executive Director, RISCS
- Alex Oshmyansky, MD, PhD, CEO, Founder, Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Co.
- Stephen W. Schondelmeyer, PharmD, PhD, FAPhA, Professor and Director, PRIME Institute, University of Minnesota
- Mittal Sutaria, PharmD, Senior Vice President, Contract and Program Services, Vizient
- Lindsey Thomas, BS, MBA, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Fresenius Kabi USA
- Kasey Thompson, PharmD, MS, MBA, Chief Operating Officer & Senior Vice President, ASHP
- Eric Tichy, PharmD, MBA, FCCP, Division Chair, Pharmacy Supply Solutions, Assistant Professor, Pharmacy, Mayo Clinic Supply Chain Management, Mayo Clinic
- Terri Lyle Wilson, RPh, CMTM, Director, Pharmacy, Supply Chain Service, Children’s Hospital Association
Organizations who wish to join the End Drug Shortages Alliance can contact the Alliance.
About End Drug Shortages Alliance
The End Drug Shortages Alliance is a collaboration of health care industry stakeholders, including providers, group purchasing organizations, manufacturers, distributors and other industry thought leaders dedicated to solving the pharmaceutical supply challenges that disrupt access to essential medications in the U.S. We prioritize initiatives focused on transparency, quality, redundancy and production of additional supply to achieve undisrupted access to essential medications for health care providers and patients.