Drug Industry Moves To Calm Y2K Fears

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Drug Industry Moves To Calm Y2K Fears

Updated 11:41 AM ET August 19, 1999By Susan Nadeau

CHICAGO (Reuters) - While others worry about the Y2K bug infecting computers, the drug and health care products industry is grappling with the possibility that panicky consumers could cause shortages as 2000 nears.

After years of work to ensure computers used in everything from manufacturing lines to ordering channels will function when the clock turns to Jan. 1, 2000, drug and health product providers are confident their systems are in good shape.

But the final unknown is the consumer. The fear is that last-minute, panic-induced prescription filling and product hoarding could clear pharmacy shelves as 2000 approaches.

"Overbuying is the only threat," said Phillip Schneider, spokesman for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

The Year 2000 or Y2K date change is a hazard for older computer systems that recognize the year by the last two digits, such as 99 for 1999. Left uncorrected, systems could read 2000 as 1900 and crash. Computers are used in all areas of the pharmaceutical industry including research and development, manufacturing, ordering and distribution.

The Pharmaceutical Alliance for Y2K Readiness, a consortium of trade groups including the NACDS and the American Medical Association, will launch a Web site this month providing Y2K information for consumers -- and advising against stockpiling.

DRUG HOARDING 'WOULD THROW THE SYSTEM OUT OF WHACK'

"If everyone were to get an extra month, it would throw (the system) out of whack," said Mark Grayson, spokesman for the drug industry trade group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), which is also part of the alliance. "Once the medications are in somebody's medicine cabinet, they're obviously not available to anybody else."

Eli Lilly and Co., which sells some of America's biggest drugs such as antidepressant Prozac and schizophrenia drug Zyprexa and is a major provider of insulin, is urging patient groups such as the American Diabetes Association to help guide their members.

"It's probably inevitable that some of that (overbuying) will occur but we also believe that information can keep that to a minimum," said Robert Grupp, Lilly's spokesman on Y2K issues. "Informed patients will be prudent patients."

Baxter International Inc., which provides an array of products including home-based dialysis systems and hemophilia therapy Recombinate, asked wholesalers to place any extra orders by July 1 to cover contingency plans and expected consumer buying sprees. Baxter received fewer than 250 extra orders, a surprisingly small number, and a spokeswoman said the company is recontacting its clients.

PLAN IN EFFECT TO PREVENT PANIC

A spokeswoman for AmeriSource Health Corp., the fourth largest U.S. wholesale pharmaceutical distributor, said the company expected pharmacies to obtain about an extra week's worth of stock near the end of the year and has started to build its own inventory in preparation.

"There is an industry-wide communications plan in place to prevent a panic, to prevent hoarding," Marybeth Alvin said, adding that the company did expect some additional demand in December and January.

In late July, information technology research firm Odin Group, along with 40 health care companies, compiled a 24-page booklet advising a common-sense approach to date-change fears. For example, prescriptions should be refilled as always when the supply drops to five to seven days, health records should be maintained and a first aid kit should be well-stocked.

"All the research we've been able to collect indicates the industry is in very good shape and there really isn't a lot of reason for concern by individual consumers," Daniel Nutkis, chairman of the Odin Group, said.

At least one major health insurance provider plans to send the brochure to all of its clients, and companies such as Lilly and Baxter have ordered copies as well.

============================================= End

Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), August 19, 1999

Answers

It's a funny headline: "Drug Industry Moves to Calm Y2K Fears." Maybe they'll dispense a little prozac with your calcium-channel blocker? A little Zoloft mixed with the insulin, dear? You seem anxious. Let us help.

-- Spidey (in@jam.commie), August 19, 1999.

"Informed patients will be prudent patients." -Robert Grupp, Lilly's spokesman on Y2K issues.

Exactly, Mr. Grupp. And it is prudent for me to purchase extra insulin, a pharmaceutical which expires after two years.

Oh, you want me to trust that your company will have NO PROBLEMS in supplying this pharmaceutical product?? Trust will not keep me alive.....insulin will. Get a grip, bud.

-David, an Ely Lilly customer for 28 years.

-- David Waldrip (dwaldrip@aol.com), August 19, 1999.


Hello...if anyone from the drug industry hierarchy or PI/PR types is listening in here: instead of telling those of us who depend upon our prescription drugs to maintain life to not panic and not get meds ahead, WHY don't you do what [don't recall his name] suggested to Gov. Jesse Ventura and now nationally...work 24 hrs. a day 7 days a week to create enough prescription drugs so that the populace may have their medications ahead? WHY are you assuming that everything will be fine, when no one really knows for sure? S.O.S. and put the consumer before the profits for once, will you? Anyone who pays for drugs knows that there are fat cats making lots of money on them!

-- Elaine Seavey (Gods1sheep@aol.com), August 19, 1999.

"Overbuying is the only threat," said Phillip Schneider, spokesman for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

He couldn't just shift blame and exaggerate like everyone else by saying "Overbuying is the primary threat" or something like that -- no, no - he had to say the only threat. I wish I had that much confidence about remediating God knows how many lines of code/systems/supply chains in the pharmecutical industry. This is pathetic.

-- Jim (x@x.x), August 19, 1999.


Consider me a threat.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), August 19, 1999.


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