Last week I wrote about the debate over the number of possible responses to verification requests in any potential solution the industry might adopt to meet the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) (see “DSCSA Red Light Green Light: Verification Responses”). Today I want to take a closer look at a related issue: the relationship between verification and suspect product. Most specifically, does a failed verification automatically force a product into the suspect product category? The answer might surprise you. Continue reading DSCSA Verification and Suspect Product
Tag Archives: saleable returns
DSCSA Red Light Green Light: Verification Responses
There is an important debate going on over the last 9 months regarding exactly how many different answers companies should prepare to provide in response to a DSCSA verification request. Some say two: “Red light” or “Green light”. And others say three: “Yes”, “No”, or “It’s Complicated”. This might seem like a minor question, but people on each side are surprisingly passionate about their positions. Let me explain. Continue reading DSCSA Red Light Green Light: Verification Responses
DSCSA Serialization: What Wholesalers Expect
Recently, several of the larger U.S. wholesale distributors have sent letters to their suppliers to review what they expect from them relative to the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA). You may recall that these companies have provided requirements in advance of earlier DSCSA deadlines (see “U.S. Drug Wholesale Distributors Provide Direction To Manufacturers“). These expectations are aimed at the November 27, 2017 serialization requirements and beyond. Continue reading DSCSA Serialization: What Wholesalers Expect
HDA’s 2016 Serialization Readiness Survey
Because of all the major news and developments over the last six months, it has taken me way too long to fully cover the Healthcare Distribution Alliance’s (HDA’s) 2016 Serialization Readiness Survey of drug manufacturers. In my defense, I did cover it partially in my report of the HDA 2016 Traceability Seminar (see “HDA Delivers Home Run To Record-Breaking Audience”), but the other news from that event seemed to overshadow the survey results. The HDA survey executive summary was so well done, and the results so important that it deserves closer scrutiny. So here is my coverage, better late than never. Continue reading HDA’s 2016 Serialization Readiness Survey
First Meeting of the HDA Verification Router Service Task Force
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!
As someone who often attempts to explain truth and reality through writing, I can really appreciate the writing skill of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (see “Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.”). I’ve learned that the best writing has to come from your heart just as much as it does from your head, but I still make mistakes that I don’t expect to see in Dr. King’s writing. Last week is an example. By attending the Healthcare Distribution Alliance’s (HDA’s) Verification Router Services (VRS) Task Force meeting in Crystal City, Virginia, I learned more about HDA’s intentions for the design of the VRS. Continue reading First Meeting of the HDA Verification Router Service Task Force
DSCSA: Saleable Returns Verification
The Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA) Traceability Seminar that was held back in early November was so packed with valuable information that I still have a number of topics queued up from that event for RxTrace essays in the future. Today I want to take a closer look at the results of the Saleable Returns Pilots conducted by the HDA last year to figure out the most efficient way to verify saleable returns. I discussed the overall project in my report of the Traceability Seminar (see “HDA Delivers Home Run To Record-Breaking Audience”) but today I want to focus in on just two of the approaches piloted. These are:
- Manufacturer sends to wholesale distributor product identifiers for only the units purchased by that wholesale distributor, and,
- Verification Router Service (VRS).
U.S. Drug Wholesale Distributors Provide Direction To Manufacturers
Over the next few years, the U.S. drug wholesale distributors are going to start dictating their specific requirements related to the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) to their suppliers. For the “Big 3” U.S. wholesale distributors, those suppliers happen to be nearly every drug manufacturer who markets drugs in the United States. The “Big 3” include McKesson, AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal Health, which together distribute about 85% of all drugs that pass through the domestic supply chain.
Of course, each segment has Continue reading U.S. Drug Wholesale Distributors Provide Direction To Manufacturers
Wholesaler Confusion Over DSCSA Aggregation Explained
While listening to a monthly Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) call hosted by one of the Big-3 wholesale distributors I heard a comment that snapped me out of my conference call-induced stupor. Unfortunately I was in a location where I could not take notes so I don’t remember the exact comments that were made, but I remember what it was that brought me back to full consciousness.
The comment made me realize in a jolt why the Big-3—or at least the one running this monthly call—may be unwilling to give up on their claims that they will need aggregation data to accompany shipments of prescription drugs from manufacturers as early as November 2019. It may have to do with a mis-interpretation of their handling of saleable returned product within the DSCSA. Let me explain. Continue reading Wholesaler Confusion Over DSCSA Aggregation Explained