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HDMA: Representing the voice of primary pharmaceutical distributors

In this Q&A, Perry Fri, Senior Vice President of Industry Relations, Membership & Education, Healthcare Distribution Management Assn., discusses the organization’s role in the pharmaceutical supply chain.

Healthcare Distribution Management Assn. logo
Healthcare Distribution Management Assn. logo

Healthcare Packaging (HCP): What is the mission of HDMA?

Fri: The Healthcare Distribution Management Association’s mission is to protect patient safety and access to medicines; create and exchange industry knowledge and best practices to enhance the value of the healthcare supply chain; and advocate for standards, public policies, and business processes that produce safe, innovative, and cost-effective healthcare solutions.

HCP: HDMA, is primarily the industry organization for the U.S. nationwide drug distributors, but you also have members who are pharmaceutical manufacturers, solution providers, and others.  How does the organization serve each of these types of members?

Fri: HDMA is the industry association representing primary healthcare distributors. We represent 32 primary distribution member companies—national, regional, and specialty organizations that manage approximately 91% of the $326 billion U.S. pharmaceuticals market. HDMA’s mission is to protect patient safety and access to medicines through the safe and efficient distribution of healthcare products and services. We also create and exchange industry knowledge and best practices to enhance the value of the healthcare supply chain. Finally, we advocate for standards, public policies, and business processes—both on Capitol Hill and in the states—that produce safe, innovative, and cost-effective healthcare solutions.

The association also has nearly 150 manufacturer members and more than 50 service provider member companies, respectively. For manufacturers, specifically, HDMA serves as a forum for these companies to work together with their distributor trading partners to identify strategies and solutions to timely and complex industry issues in the areas of business technology, logistics, and business processes through the work of its committees and task forces. As a result of these partnerships, HDMA is a one-of-a-kind resource for white papers, guidelines, and leading-edge intelligence. Both manufacturers and service provider companies also join the association to build close business relationships with pharmaceutical distribution companies, build their network of contacts, and share their expertise with the industry.

HCP: HDMA has published industry guidelines for the use of barcodes and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) in the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain.  How do these guides complement the related GS1 and ANSI X12 standards that they reference?

Fri: GS1 and ANSI X12 standards are broad cross-industry standards. HDMA guidelines facilitate the implementation of these standards in the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain. In certain, very specific instances we may vary from the standard; these guidelines and variances are developed based on members’ (pharmaceutical manufacturers’ and distributors’) input. The input provided is based on longstanding business practices in the pharmaceutical supply chain.    

HCP: How can interested readers get a copy of these guidelines?

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INTRODUCING! The Latest Trends for Life Sciences at PACK EXPO Southeast