Letter to the editor: Pharmaceutical distributors critical

Rep. Natalie Mihalek’s op-ed “Anticipated drug shortages highlight need for health care industry collaboration” (Aug. 11, TribLIVE) highlighted the health care industry’s critical work to increase medication access during covid-19.

Mihalek’s piece brings due attention to the need for industry collaboration with state and federal officials. However, it excludes a critical piece of the supply chain responsible for ensuring medications actually reach the patients they are prescribed to — pharmaceutical distributors.

Distributors are the logistics experts in the supply chain who transport, store and distribute medications and supplies from pharmaceutical manufacturers worldwide to pharmacy counters in Pennsylvania and across the country. Over 90% of medicines dispensed in America arrive at hospitals, pharmacies or doctor’s offices from distributors.

Distributors have adapted operations quickly, striving to keep frontline health care providers stocked despite unprecedented demands and challenges. By leveraging strong relationships across the supply chain and working closely with government officials, they are actively trying to mitigate critical medication shortages in highly impacted areas while still meeting our daily health care needs.

During this crisis, industry and government entities will encounter new challenges. Proactive planning and collaboration will remain crucial, especially as coronavirus vaccines become available. Distributors will continue working with the government and supply chain partners to keep our health care system streamlined and responsive.

Matt DiLoreto

Arlington, Va.