Which agency houses the strategic national stockpile of emergency pharmaceutical supplies?
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An act of terrorism (or a large scale natural disaster) targeting the U.S. civilian population will require rapid access to large quantities of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. Such quantities may not
be readily available unless special stockpiles are created. No one can anticipate exactly where a terrorist will strike and few state or local governments have the resources to create sufficient stockpiles on their own. Therefore, a national stockpile has been created as a resource for all. In 1999 Congress charged the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with the establishment of the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile (NPS).
In 2003, the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile (NPS) was renamed the Strategic National Stockpile when it became an asset to the Department of Homeland Security. The SNS is a national repository of antibiotics, chemical antidotes, antitoxins, life-support medications, IV administration, airway maintenance supplies, and medical/surgical items. The SNS is designed to supplement and re-supply state and local public health agencies in the event of a national emergency anywhere and at anytime within
the U.S. or its territories. A portion of the SNS called the “Push Pack” is strategically located within the United States in secure warehouses ready for immediate deployment to a designated site within 12 hours of the federal decision to deploy SNS assets. A subsequent delivery to areas will be made within 36 -72 hours. The SNS has been deployed as a response to the events of September 11, 2001 and in response to Hurricane Lili. In Kent County, we are working hard to ensure that we are
prepared to request and receive the Strategic National Stockpile to ensure that we are able to meet the healthcare needs of our community in the event of a disaster or emergency. When disaster strikes, CDC’s Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) is prepared to provide medicine and medical supplies to any affected area within the United States and its territories on a moment’s notice. The SNS serves as the nation’s repository of medicines and supplies for use if there is a public health emergency, such as a terrorist attack, flu outbreak, or natural disaster, severe enough to cause local supplies to run out. The repository is designed to supplement or re-supply state and local public health agencies when needed. The SNS is organized for flexible response, and its role is constantly evolving so that CDC can continue to protect the nation’s health. Supporting Supply Chain Management and Quality In the 17 years since Congress authorized the SNS, originally named the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile, CDC has learned a considerable amount about response operations involving medical countermeasures (medicine and medical supplies that can prevent or treat diseases related to a public health emergency). While storing and deploying medical countermeasures are critical roles and often the most visible outcome of SNS activities, they are just part of the larger medical supply chain spectrum, which includes:
As part of its supply chain role, the SNS is committed to the highest standards of quality and regularly works with other federal agencies and private industry to ensure that the SNS products that are stored for public health emergencies are safe and ready to use. Ensuring Ebola-specific Personal Protective Equipment Is
Available During both a public health emergency and times of normal operations, CDC provides information about the supply chain to other federal partners, as well as state and local public health officials. This information-sharing has led to guidance on the use of products during a public health emergency and promotes informed decision-making for all partners engaged in a response. For example, during the Ebola response, CDC monitored local supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) and encouraged hospitals, public health, and healthcare coalitions to develop sharing plans during a time when supply was not meeting demand. The SNS coordinated with commercial supply chain partners to identify gaps in PPE and on-hand PPE inventory at U.S. hospitals designated as Ebola Treatment Centers. These hospitals were prioritized for orders and the rapid delivery of key products such as gowns, coveralls, aprons, boot covers, gloves, face shields and disinfecting wipes, in the event the hospitals received an Ebola patient. The SNS also established a small stockpile of Ebola-specific PPE to meet urgent, short-term needs until commercial sources could respond to the demand. Implementing Mosquito Control and Zika Prevention In the wake of the Zika virus outbreak, the SNS is providing immediate vector-control services and preventive supplies for pregnant women to protect themselves from mosquito bites. The SNS has successfully initiated two short-term, overarching contracts for mosquito control efforts in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Guam. The contracts include mosquito treatments of homes, schools, hospitals, and public places in the affected areas. There are also provisions for truck-mounted aerial spraying, if it is needed. These contracts also provide some community outreach in the form of educational and consultative services to the communities affected by Zika. By working with the CDC Foundation and by making direct purchases, the SNS has obtained materials for Zika Prevention Kits – including insect repellent, larvicides, mosquito netting, condoms to prevent sexual transmission of Zika, and educational materials. The SNS is rapidly assembling these materials in reusable bags that can be given to pregnant women. To date, the SNS has sent nearly 7,000 kits to affected areas, and more are planned. CDC’s Strategic National Stockpile – with its goal of ensuring the right materials reach the right people at the right time – has evolved to become a key player in how both the agency and the larger medical supply chain responds to public health threats in order to safeguard the health security of the United States. Who manages the Strategic National Stockpile?The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) of the Department of Health and Human Services has managed the Strategic National Stockpile since October 1, 2018. Prior to that, the stockpile was managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
What's in the Strategic National Stockpile?What is in the SNS? The SNS is a national repository of antibiotics, chemical antidotes, antitoxins, life-support medications, IV administration, airway maintenance supplies, and medical/surgical items.
What is the purpose of the Strategic National Stockpile SNS?The Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) is part of the federal medical response infrastructure and can supplement medical countermeasures needed by states, tribal nations, territories and the largest metropolitan areas during public health emergencies.
When was the Strategic National Stockpile?It began in 1998 with the Consolidated Appropriations Act,8 which, in response to an emergency budget supplement request by President Clinton, provided $51 million for pharmaceutical and vaccine stockpiling activities at CDC.
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