Healthcare Ready was established in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina by the trade associations comprising the bio-pharmaceutical supply chain and the American Red Cross. During the Katrina response, millions of dollars in monetary and pharmaceutical donations were distributed by various non-profit and response organizations, as well as the private sector, with little coordination between them. Without a central point of contact to foster collaboration between the bio-pharmaceutical supply chain and government, medical deliveries were held up at check points; hundreds of phone calls between government officials and random contacts within individual companies asked many of the same questions; and resolving questions or tackling obstacles proved time consuming and wasteful. Since its creation, Healthcare Ready has helped companies, government agencies, and other organizations quickly and effectively address healthcare supply chain concerns before, during and after disasters.
