NCPA Statement On California's Delay Of E-Pedigree Implementation
The California State Board of Pharmacy recently announced their intention to exercise their statutory authority to delay the implementation of E-Pedigree from January 1, 2009 to January 1, 2011. E-Pedigree is the new track and trace technology designed to strengthen the chain of custody for drugs by preventing diversions and counterfeit products from entering the marketplace.
The decision coincides with the recommendation that Dave Wilcox, RPh, owner of Northwest Medical Pharmacy in Fresno, Calif., offered in his testimony on behalf of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) before the Enforcement Committee of the California State Board of Pharmacy at their E-pedigree hearing back on December 5, 2007. (To view his entire testimony, please go to the following link: http://www.ncpanet.org/pdf/leg/testimony-pedigreewilcox20071204.pdf)
In response to the decision Bruce Roberts, RPh, executive vice president and CEO of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), issued the following statement:
"We applaud the California State Board of Pharmacy for their prudent decision to delay the implementation of E-Pedigree. While we certainly support the concept of using track and trace technology to limit the fraud and abuse of prescription drugs, the 2009 deadline was a logistical impossibility that lacked specificity for the affected parties. We hope the delay will allow those lingering issues to be addressed, including providing financial relief for community pharmacies that would be required to buy the expensive equipment for this unfunded mandate. The National Community Pharmacists Association remains committed to offering whatever assistance is needed to make the new 2011 implementation deadline as smooth and practical as possible."
About NCPA
The National Community Pharmacists Association, founded in 1898, represents the nation's community pharmacists, including the owners of more than 23,000 pharmacies. The nation's independent pharmacies, independent pharmacy franchises, and independent chains dispense nearly half of the nation's retail prescription medicines. To learn more go to www.ncpanet.org.
SOURCE: National Community Pharmacists Association