HDA Statement On Attorneys General Opioid Investigations

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following today's announcement on investigations regarding the opioid epidemic, John M. Gray, President and CEO of the Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA), released the following statement:

"Pharmaceutical distributors welcome the opportunity to have a full discussion about how, and why, opioids have been overprescribed and how our industry can be positive contributors to addressing this public health crisis and its root causes."

"While distributors play a vital role as logistics companies, to suggest that they are responsible for the volume of opioids prescribed lacks a fundamental understanding of how the supply chain works and is regulated. Distributors have no ability to influence what prescriptions are written. The fact is that distributors don't make medicines, market medicines, prescribe medicines or dispense them to consumers. Our role is to deliver medicines safely, securely and efficiently from manufacturers to pharmacies, hospitals and other healthcare institutions based on prescriptions written by licensed prescribers."

Background:

• Fact Sheet: Prescribing Patterns & the Opioid Epidemic
• Fact Sheet: Facts about Distributors & the Opioid Crisis
• HDA Comment Letter to DOJ on Regulatory Reforms

About the Healthcare Distribution Alliance
The Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA) represents primary pharmaceutical distributors ? the vital link between the nation's pharmaceutical manufacturers and more than 200,000 pharmacies, hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics and others nationwide. Since 1876, HDA has helped members navigate regulations and innovations to get the right medicines to the right patients at the right time, safely and efficiently. The HDA Research Foundation, HDA's non-profit charitable foundation, serves the healthcare industry by providing research and education focused on priority healthcare supply chain issues.

SOURCE Healthcare Distribution Alliance