ProvideGx, LLC, a subsidiary of Premier Inc., is collaborating with Baxter Healthcare Corporation to make additional generic drugs available for purchase through Premier’s group purchasing organization.
Drug shortages have been on the rise for several years, with an estimated 210 drugs currently at risk or not readily available for U.S. hospitals, according to the national database maintained by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP). With wide-ranging effects on patient care, drug shortages can add time and expense as providers search for therapeutic alternatives and manage supplies, potentially delaying certain elective surgeries.
“Premier is committed to aggregating provider demand for products and creating a predictable sales channel for suppliers,” said Michael J. Alkire, Chief Operating Officer at Premier. “This agreement allows Premier to work with Baxter on mitigating shortages that have plagued the market for years, marking the 92nd shortage product by the National Drug Code that we can now supply on a reliable basis.”
Premier and Baxter are collaborating to supply metoprolol injection, a life-saving blood pressure medication often used to treat patients experiencing hypertensive emergencies, such as heart attacks. Baxter is adding metoprolol injection to its growing portfolio of generic medicines that are essential to hospital care. Metoprolol, which has been subject to shortages since 2016, will be available for purchase by any health system or healthcare provider at competitive price points.
Fully funded by Premier, ProvideGx is charged with identifying safe, high-quality supply sources for drugs on the national drug shortage list. ProvideGx is the next step in Premier’s ongoing effort to reliably supply member health systems and others with more than 250 high-quality products, including shortage drugs. Through the subsidiary, Premier is working with a robust pipeline of manufacturers to identify a supply of shortage products, explore solutions to address specific market needs and secure guaranteed supply contracts for active pharmaceutical ingredients to promote a continuous supply.
