Twenty-four national healthcare organizations are urging lawmakers to pass the Prevent Pandemics Act, which includes several provisions to strengthen the medical supply chain.
In an Aug. 4 letter, the organizations called on the nation's top congressional leaders to "swiftly enact" the bipartisan legislation, which was first introduced March 10. The bill would give more flexibility for the federal government to partner with distributors and manufacturers to support the Strategic National Stockpile, among other measures.
Organizations that signed the letter include the American Academy of Family Physicians, Health Industry Distributors Association, Infectious Diseases Society of America and the National Rural Health Association.
"Enacting the Prevent Pandemics Act will better equip our nation with the tools to combat future public health challenges and threats and bring us one step closer to filling the gaps in our future pandemic response," they wrote.
Read the full letter here.