Conversations and healthy debate about issues facing our industry and the health care system are critical to addressing some of today’s challenges and opportunities. The Catalyst welcomes guest contributors, including patients, stakeholders, innovators and others, to share their perspectives and point of view. Views represented here may not be those of PhRMA, though they are no less key to a healthy dialogue on issues in health care today.
Today, we are pleased to share a blog post from Nicolette Louissaint, executive director of Healthcare Ready.
It’s clear that natural disasters, such as Hurricane Harvey and Irma, bring dangerous and destructive winds, rain and flooding. But the greatest threats of a natural disaster are not always immediately apparent. Harvey didn’t just destroy homes, stores and roads; the storm dismantled critical safety nets that we rely on every day, particularly for our health and medicines.
Hurricane Irma is poised to make an even larger hit on our health care infrastructure. That’s why it’s crucial to create a disaster preparedness plan for your health care needs – before, during and after a state of emergency. While it’s impossible to predict everything during a natural disaster, the following tips will prevent many life-threatening situations before they occur.
- Prepare and plan your medicines. Bring all current prescription medicines and medical supplies with you and store them in a waterproof bag. Use Rx On the Run to stay on top of prescribing and dosage information and make sure you have a sufficient supply. During emergencies, many states, such as Texas and Florida, allow pharmacists to re-prescribe up to a 30-day supply without a doctor’s signature, so be sure to check your state government’s laws and regulations and plan ahead.
- Mind your chronic conditions. Many chronic diseases require consistent attention, and during a natural disaster access to necessary medicine or medical equipment is far from guaranteed. It’s best to bring medical equipment with you, if possible, and stay in touch with emergency responders and/or the closest available health care provider. Many organization have specific tips for those with chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, asthma, heart disease and others.
- Beware of contaminated water. Flooding causes the water from reservoirs, sewage lines, and septic tanks to intermingle. Even the water from your kitchen sink may be contaminated. It’s best to drink bottled water and to always boil or disinfect water before using it to clean clothes or dishes. Open wounds are also at high risk of infection, so keep them covered and stay out of floodwater, whenever possible.
- Stay aware of your closest health resources. An unexpectedly blocked road or sudden injury can complicate any plan, but unpredictable factors can be catastrophic for one’s health condition, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those with disabilities. Be aware of the closest provider, pharmacy and emergency department. Rx Open, a tool from Healthcare Ready, provides a map of the closest open pharmacies, with daily updates to ensure displaced patients can access medicine they need when they need it.
Your prescription medicines or the closest hospital may not be the first thing to come to mind during a natural disaster, especially when bare essentials such as food, water and shelter aren’t even guaranteed. But these tips, and other resources from Healthcare Ready, can prevent future health complications and be the difference between life or death in the uncertain and dangerous environment of a natural disaster.
Guest Contributor
The PhRMA blog welcomes guest contributors, including patients, stakeholders, innovators and others, to share their perspectives and point of view on issues facing our industry and the health care system.
Guest Contributor
New study: HPV vaccination helps prevent cervical cancer deaths
America's cancer research progress is real and worth protecting
Ahead of ASCO: Cancer innovation is promising, but policy choices matter
Advancing patient care: A look at new medicines approved in 2025
CAREs 2025: Supporting community-based solutions that improve access to medicines
New analysis finds 340B hospitals push patients toward costly care to boost profits
Price setting policies put cancer gains in jeopardy
Improved treatments continue to lead to declining cancer mortality rates in the U.S.
Guest Perspective: Prioritize Innovative Care
Preventing and fighting disease: A look at the biopharmaceutical progress made for patients in 2024
Celebrating advances in diabetes research
Post-approval R&D is critical for fighting cancer. The IRA makes it more difficult.
The importance of partnership: A conversation with Takeda
Did the administration consider the importance of blood clot medicines to patients in the price setting process?
Did the administration consider the value of innovative diabetes medicines in price setting process?
More oversight needed of unapproved medicines that threaten patients’ health
The future of oncology R&D lies in policymakers’ hands
Showcasing the promise of biopharma at ASCO 2024
Championing cancer equity: Our drive for healthier AANHPI communities
What recent rhetoric on the cost of diabetes and anti-obesity medicines gets wrong
The impact of innovative medicines: A caregiver's perspective
American Heart Month: A nurse’s perspective
PhRMA awards $250,000 to community-based projects to improve equitable cancer outcomes
Three things to know about antibody drug conjugates
Florida’s importation plan puts patients in danger
The IRA’s pill penalty threatens the future of oncology R&D
New Report: 1,600 cancer treatments and vaccines in clinical development
R&D leaders to Biden Administration: Your policies are undermining the Cancer Moonshot
Watch: New video series spotlights advances in biopharmaceutical science
Between hope and despair: Improving cancer outcomes
New report shows high-impact R&D happens after cancer medicines are first approved
New report shows how the Inflation Reduction Act stifles innovation for small molecule medicines
ASCO 2023: Protecting our progress in the fight against cancer
Highlights from ASCO 2023
New calculator demonstrates how improved adherence to anti-diabetic medicines can benefit people in Medicaid
4 key facts on medicine prices and spending
IRA Impacts: Cancer treatment research and development
State policymakers can protect American innovation and help Americans live longer, healthier lives
ICYMI: Cancer death rate continues to decline due to treatment advances
Novel medicines approved in 2022 offer increased treatment options for patients
Three things to know about the accelerated approval pathway
Stories from the lab: Researchers discuss innovative treatments for cancers of the blood
New data show how insurers and middlemen shift Rx costs onto patients
ICYMI: PhRMA COO Lori Reilly Esq. speaks with Jacob Van Naarden about the future of cancer research
Protecting treatment advances for breast cancer
Don’t take anti-innovation, activist funded academics at their word
Insulin and reconciliation
Key takeaways from ASCO's annual meeting
ICYMI: First pediatric patient to receive CAR-T cell therapy celebrates 10 years of being cancer-free
Report: More than 500 medicines in development to treat disorders of the blood
Why drug importation is bad for Americans
Sharing rebates can save Americans with diabetes 500 each year and improve adherence
4 things to know about biopharmaceutical efforts to fight cancer
New data show continued decline in death rates for cancer patients related to treatment advances
Recognizing National Immunization Awareness Month
3 factors impacting medication adherence for patients with diabetes
Action needed to preserve the six protected classes
New insulin report highlights how incentives benefit middlemen, harm patients
ICYMI: Cancer death rate continues decline due to advances in treatment
Report: More than 1,300 medicines and vaccines in development to help fight cancer
Accumulator adjustment programs lead to surprise out-of-pocket costs and nonadherence, analysis finds
Study finds biopharmaceutical innovation is responsible for 35% of the increase in life expectancy from 1990 to 2015
Sharing rebates can improve access to medicines and increase health equity
Commercial health plans have increased patients’ out-of-pocket costs by over 50% in some therapeutic areas
New report explores setbacks that bring future cancer success stories
Guest Post: Takeda seeks ‘new normal’ for cancer research during the COVID-19 pandemic
PhRMA submits comments on FDA’s proposed rule on drug importation
Drug importation: An old idea that is still a bad idea
Cancer medicines cost twice as much at hospitals, study finds
PhRMA comments to Congress on Cures 2.0 call to action
Guest post: H.R.3 is the wrong approach to help patients like me
Guest post: Sharing discounts and rebates is the right thing to do
What they’re saying: Safety is top concern for recent drug importation proposal
ICYMI: Canadian government, stakeholders voice concerns with drug importation proposals
PhRMA responds to Florida’s request for information on drug importation
Ask About Adherence: Hepatitis C cures will save Medicaid $12 billion by 2022
PhRMA CEO raises concerns with Florida importation proposal, highlights reforms needed to lower costs for patients
New report shows more than 160 medicines in development for diabetes and related conditions
Five key facts about the market for insulins
OptumRX: Sharing rebates with patients is “worth it”
Look at the facts. Drug importation is dangerous.
130 medicines in development for asthma, allergies and other respiratory diseases
130 medicines in development for asthma, allergies and other respiratory diseases
Six key facts about the market for insulins
Saving kids and dogs from shared cancers
Ask About Adherence: New study finds one-third of newly diagnosed diabetic patients aren’t starting treatment
New analysis shows that more medicines worldwide are available to U.S. patients
New analysis shows that HTA organizations may frequently restrict access to cancer treatments
New report and resources put cancer in context, showing more than 1,100 medicines and vaccines in development
Securely dispose of your unwanted medicines on National Take Back Day
Reality check: Value-based contracts are good for patients
Spending on medicines grew less than one percent in 2017
Patients pay the price when hospitals mark up cancer medicines
Ask About Adherence: Private-sector collaboration can lead to savings and care improvement
New report shows better diabetes management saves money and improves patient outcomes
A new era in cancer
The Washington Post retracts PhRMA claim in opioid story
PhRMA response to Washington Post and 60 Minutes stories
PhRMA, member companies and NIH create public-private partnership for immuno-oncology
VIDEO: PhRMA CEO discusses industry response to opioid crisis on Mornings with Maria
What they are saying: Study on cancer R&D costs is not an accurate representation of marketplace
PhRMA Supports President’s Commission’s Holistic Approach on Opioid Crisis
Opportunities to build upon enhanced competition for medicines in the marketplace
Ask About Adherence: Discussion on medication adherence as national priority
Medicare Monday: New report highlights progress in fighting cancer with new physician-administered medicines
Medicare Monday: Positive impact of Part D on America’s seniors
A critical opportunity to prevent prescription drug abuse
More than 240 immuno-oncology treatments in development to fight cancer
Medicines have significantly increased chances of cancer survival around the globe
Former law enforcement officials raise concerns with drug importation proposals
ICYMI: Report highlights overall decrease in cancer death rates
Resources for understanding the dangers of drug importation
Medicare Monday: A discussion on affordability and access to medicines
How drug importation schemes could increase U.S. law enforcement burdens
Case Study: How one online pharmacy knowingly endangered U.S. consumers
Why drug importation threatens patient safety
Fact Check Friday: The truth about drug importation and patient safety
What you don’t know about importation from Canada
Biopharmaceutical industry’s success reducing disparities for African Americans
Discovery of counterfeit hepatitis C drug is another example of why importation is bad for patients
This is not a video game: New TV ad showcases the destruction of a cancer cell by immune system
Medicare Monday: How Part D helps patients with heart disease live longer, healthier lives
The 20-year journey yielding a new weapon against cancer
Significant progress fighting cancer: Death rate has dropped 25 percent
Protect your health: Important disaster preparedness tips for Harvey and Irma
Diabetes
Adherence
Cancer
Prescription Drug Safety
Asthma
Heart Disease
Protect your health: Important disaster preparedness tips for Harvey and Irma
Protect your health: Important disaster preparedness tips for Harvey and Irma