The pharmaceutical facility is responsible for ensuring the mobilization and distribution of emergency medical supplies:

• releasing diphtheria or botulinum antitoxins from stock for use by healthcare facilities;

• emergency distribution of products from the strategic “health” stockpile;

• emergency procurement and exceptional distribution of health products.

Distribution of specific health products - Release of antitoxins

The Santé publique France pharmaceutical facility maintains a national stockpile to meet specific public health needs (cases of foodborne botulism, cases of diphtheria).

This stockpile helps address supply challenges faced by hospitals (such as the unavailability of certain rare products in France).

These specific products must be made available to the healthcare facility within a maximum of 12 hours. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure rapid patient care, a factor that is often essential to the effectiveness of treatment.

Emergency distribution of products from the strategic "health" stockpile

Distribution of strategic stock related to response plans

In response to an exceptional health situation, at the request of the Ministry of Health, the pharmaceutical company is responsible for making strategic “health” stocks (iodine, CBRN medical countermeasures, etc.) available to crisis management authorities.

The distribution channels for these health products are specified in an interministerial circular DGS/DUS/DGSCGC dated August 21, 2013, and in the interministerial circular dated July 11, 2011, concerning potassium iodide tablets.

Emergency procurement and exceptional distribution of health products

The Ministry of Health may also, upon referral, request the emergency procurement and distribution of health products, excluding strategic stocks. (Hurricane Irma, exceptional vaccination campaign, etc.)