COMMITTEE ON ASSESSMENT OF THE
U.S. DRUG SAFETY SYSTEM

On July 19, 2005, ASHP presented comments to the Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Assessment of the U.S. Drug Safety System.

In the form of an introduction, ASHP remains committed to maintaining the public’s confidence in the integrity of the drug supply and to protecting the public through appropriate drug approval and monitoring services.

Here are ASHP’s recommendations:

1.	Increase FDA authority and funding for post-marketing safety and efficacy studies and mandatory registration and disclosure of trials in a national registry.
2.	Explore new models of public-private partnership for post-marketing surveillance.
3.	Better utilize pharmacists and other health care professionals in adverse drug reaction reporting and drug safety.
4.	Increase public understanding of the inherent risks of prescription and nonprescription medications.

bipartisan legislation is a companion to H.R. 3547, introduced in July of this year by Representatives Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) and Bobby Rush (D-IL). The Safety Net Inpatient Drug Affordability Act would require pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide 340B discounts to inpatient pharmaceuticals. It would also add critical access hospitals to those facilities eligible to participate in the 340B program.

ASHP Urges Funding for Health
Information Technology

ASHP, along with several other health care associations, showed its ongoing support this month for congressional appropriation in the fiscal year 2006 Labor and Health and Human Services appropriations bill to fully fund President Bush’s request of $125 million for health information technology. This also includes $75 million for the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONCHIT) and the Agency for Health Research and Quality (AHRQ) [Transforming Healthcare Quality Through Information] grants. The House-passed Labor HHS appropriations bill already provides funding at a level equivalent to the President’s request.

The Society will be accepting nominations for state-level offices from now until January 15, 2006. Several positions will be opening that may be of interest to you or one of your colleagues.

Opening positions include:

President-Elect
This leadership position offers an individual the opportunity to direct our organization with the NJSHP President. Term of president-elect is for one year, after which this position assumes the presidency.

Secretary
This position records the minutes of the Board’s monthly meeting. Additional functions are secondary to the secretary’s participation in other NJSHP related affairs. Term of office is two years.

Director of Organizational Affairs
This position is responsible for the
recruitment and retention of

NJSHP members. Term of office is two years.

Director of Legal and Public Affairs

This position is responsible for reporting, following, and implementing policies, procedures, and regulatory acts from state and federal levels of government. Term of office is two years.

All available positions allow an individual, with the right motivation, to have an impact on the course of the profession of pharmacy practice.

If you have questions or want to submit your name or nominate someone from your Chapter, please contact Stella Williams (Telephone (609) 936-2205, Fax (609) 936-2176, or email swilliam@njha.com) before the January 15th deadline.

After we compile the list of candidates into a ballot, the ballot will go out to all NJSHP members. Therefore, we need your help in obtaining nominations before January 15, 2006.