SANTA BARBARA, Calif., May 21, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Direct Relief has been reaccredited by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) as a Verified-Accredited Wholesale Distributor (VAWD), through the rigorous national accreditation program developed to help secure the integrity of U.S. drug supply chain, protect public health, and ensure compliance with all national and state licensure requirements, applicable statutes and regulations, and industry-leading practices.
The California-based nonprofit organization was the first U.S. nonprofit to obtain VAWD certification in 2009. It remains the only nonprofit licensed to distribute prescription medications in all 50 U.S. states and conducts the country's largest nonprofit charitable medicines program. Three U.S. states require VAWD accreditation as a condition for obtaining a state license to distribute prescription medications.
"We were pleased when Direct Relief became the only nonprofit to obtain VAWD accreditation several years ago and we are pleased to have met the heightened standards that now exist," said Direct Relief President and CEO Thomas Tighe. "The accreditation reflects a significant, sustained investment and Direct Relief's commitment to meeting the highest standards of care, legal and regulatory compliance, and best industry practices the standards do not change because they are done by a nonprofit organization on a charitable basis for people unable to pay."
Direct Relief's programs within the U.S. include providing medications and supplies free of charge to serve low-income uninsured patients at more than 1000 nonprofit community health centers and clinics in all 50 states as well as extensive emergency preparedness and response activities involving prescription medications and other medical material. More than 100 healthcare companies make product donations to Direct Relief for use in the organization's humanitarian public-health programs.
"We recognized several years ago that, within the United States, no properly licensed nonprofit mechanism existed to mobilize and provide prescription medications nationwide when emergencies occurred, which, thankfully,Direct Relief is now able to do consistently and efficiently, as during Hurricane Sandy and even now in response to the ferocious storms and tornadoes hitting the Midwest," said Tighe.
As described on the NABP website, "VAWD accreditation plays a pivotal role in preventing counterfeit drugs from entering the United States drug supply it helps protect the public from drugs that have been contaminated, diverted, or counterfeited. The US supply of prescription drugs is produced and delivered to patients via a complex distribution path, and VAWD accreditation helps ensure that the wholesale distribution facility operates legitimately, is licensed in good standing, and is employing security and best practices for safely distributing prescription drugs from manufacturers to pharmacies and other institutions."
While VAWD relates to the distribution of prescription medications within the United States, Direct Relief also uses the same information systems and operating procedures in providing humanitarian assistance -- including prescription medications, vaccines, and nutritional supplements, and medical supplies -- to more than 70 countries worldwide on an ongoing basis and during emergencies.
"The underlying concerns about public health, patient safety, and drug supply-chain integrity that make VAWD so important in the United States exist everywhere, particularly so in many developing countries that require international assistance but have fewer resources to devote to compliance," said Tighe. "Direct Relief's unique-among-nonprofits experience building systems to obtain licensure in all 50 U.S. states and VAWD accreditation is enormously helpful in our international humanitarian health work and interactions with private donors, foreign governments, and of course patients all of whom share the same concerns."
Among other awards and recognitions, Direct Relief received the 2011 Peter F. Drucker Award for Nonprofit Innovation for its aggressive use of commercial technologies to speed, enhance, and bring efficiency and transparency to humanitarian health services for people in need.
About Direct Relief Direct Relief is a medical relief organization active in all 50 states and 70 countries. It works with more than 1,000 health clinics across the U.S. to assist in emergencies and an ongoing basis, providing them with free medications for people in need. The organization has been among the world's largest medical suppliers in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, has top charity ratings, including four-star and "top-notch" rating from Charity Navigator, and a 99% fundraising efficiency rating from Forbes magazine. Direct Relief was awarded the 2011 Peter F. Drucker Award for Nonprofit Innovation for its ability to adapt the insight, approaches, and tools of commercial technology for humanitarian purposes. For more information, please visit http://www.DirectRelief.org
- Amatheon - Wholesale Veterinary Medicine [Last Updated On: May 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2011]
- Stronger Risk Management Program for Accutane (isotretinoin) [Last Updated On: May 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 9th, 2011]
- Presentation of our company [Last Updated On: May 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 13th, 2011]
- Value Drug Company [Last Updated On: May 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 14th, 2011]
- erectile dysfunction videos [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- Pet Pharmacy Vaccines- Buy Cheap Pet Supply Products Online [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- Wholesale Supplements Sites (1) [Last Updated On: May 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 22nd, 2011]
- Reliance Wholesale - Who we are [Last Updated On: May 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 22nd, 2011]
- HCG Wholesale Source [Last Updated On: May 31st, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 31st, 2011]
- Vertical storage carousel, storage and retrieval for bin storage at Cecofar [Last Updated On: May 31st, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 31st, 2011]
- My Choice Meds - Online Medicinal Options [Last Updated On: June 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 8th, 2011]
- Introducing GensourceRx - Authorized Pharmaceuticals Distributor [Last Updated On: June 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 9th, 2011]
- AncientWay.com Chinese Herbal Pharmacy [Last Updated On: June 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 12th, 2011]
- Generic Cialis [Last Updated On: June 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 12th, 2011]
- H1N1 : Ukraine in panic. 8th November 2009 [Last Updated On: June 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 18th, 2011]
- my pharmacy world drug mart [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2011]
- Provigil Canada [Last Updated On: June 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 26th, 2011]
- 1962 - I'm Not a Well Man - Barbra Streisand - I Can Get It For You Wholesale [Last Updated On: June 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 29th, 2011]
- Retail struggles to find pharmacists -The Lempert Report [Last Updated On: July 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 4th, 2011]
- Buy Kamagra [Last Updated On: July 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 15th, 2011]
- Provigil drug [Last Updated On: July 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 17th, 2011]
- Buy Dapoxetine [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2011]
- Provigil vs Adderall [Last Updated On: August 2nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 2nd, 2011]
- Ajanta Kamagra [Last Updated On: August 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 9th, 2011]
- Interview - Mark James, AAH [Last Updated On: August 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 30th, 2011]
- Modafinil online pharmacy [Last Updated On: September 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 4th, 2011]
- Marley Drug vs. WalMart [Last Updated On: September 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 9th, 2011]
- What is Azithromycin [Last Updated On: September 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 11th, 2011]
- California Board of Pharmacy Meeting September 7 2011 [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2011]
- Vertical Carousel Pharmacy Automation Systems Sets the Stage For More Efficient Patient Care [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2011]
- Track-and-trace Showcase, Toluca Mexico Feb 2011 (English) [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- Vigora tablets [Last Updated On: October 2nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 2nd, 2011]
- Dydrogesterone uses [Last Updated On: October 3rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 3rd, 2011]
- Buy Zithromax [Last Updated On: October 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 8th, 2011]
- Where to buy Diclofenac [Last Updated On: October 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 8th, 2011]
- Dosage voltaren [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2011]
- Nuvigil dosage [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2011]
- Buy Alendronate [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2011]
- Buy Zanaflex - Video [Last Updated On: October 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2011]
- Fosamax benefits - Video [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2011]
- Ponstel side effects - Video [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2011]
- Diflucan single dose - Video [Last Updated On: October 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 17th, 2011]
- Buy Nolvadex UK - Video [Last Updated On: October 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 17th, 2011]
- ACAI BERRY SELECT - Video [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2011]
- Presentation of our company - Video [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2011]
- Buy Viagra Generic and Save - Video [Last Updated On: October 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 22nd, 2011]
- Caverta tablet - Video [Last Updated On: October 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 24th, 2011]
- Uses Herbolax - Video [Last Updated On: October 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2011]
- Where to buy Hoodia - Video [Last Updated On: October 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 30th, 2011]
- Cheap Caverta - Video [Last Updated On: November 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 4th, 2011]
- Where to buy Diclofenac - Video [Last Updated On: November 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 5th, 2011]
- Generic Carbamazepine - Video [Last Updated On: November 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 6th, 2011]
- Order Estradiol - Video [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2011]
- Tablets Dostinex - Video [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2011]
- Modalert review - Video [Last Updated On: November 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 9th, 2011]
- Acomplia dosage - Video [Last Updated On: November 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 10th, 2011]
- Dapoxetine India - Video [Last Updated On: November 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 15th, 2011]
- Where to buy Voltaren - Video [Last Updated On: November 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 17th, 2011]
- Acomplia buy UK - Video [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2011]
- Price Voltaren - Video [Last Updated On: November 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 21st, 2011]
- Purchase Voltaren - Video [Last Updated On: November 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 27th, 2011]
- Drug store markups worth the cost? - Video [Last Updated On: December 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 4th, 2011]
- Tablets Danazol - Video [Last Updated On: December 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 6th, 2011]
- Priligy experience - Video [Last Updated On: December 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 10th, 2011]
- Buy Acomplia cheap - Video [Last Updated On: December 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 11th, 2011]
- Where to buy Bactrim - Video [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2011]
- Dapoxetina Cloridrato - Video [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2011]
- Dapoxetine sale - Video [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2011]
- Acomplia diet drug - Video [Last Updated On: December 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 17th, 2011]
- Cheap Acomplia online - Video [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2011]
- Priligy pills - Video [Last Updated On: December 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 25th, 2011]
- Cipralex Lexapro - Video [Last Updated On: December 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 28th, 2011]
- Getting off Lexapro - Video [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2012]
- Lexapro alternatives - Video [Last Updated On: January 6th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 6th, 2012]
- Lexapro 20 mg - Video [Last Updated On: January 6th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 6th, 2012]
- Modavigil - Video [Last Updated On: January 10th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 10th, 2012]
- Modifilan side effects - Video [Last Updated On: January 11th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 11th, 2012]
- Cipralex 10mg - Video [Last Updated On: January 13th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 13th, 2012]
- Celexa Lexapro - Video [Last Updated On: January 14th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 14th, 2012]
- Oral Jelly Kamagra - Video [Last Updated On: January 14th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 14th, 2012]