The 4th SISPAT and CBMTS series
and the US CDC/NPS

A Very Special Workshop on 4-5 December 2004
Establishing a Stockpile of Essential Medical Supplies Issues and Actions

Workshop Overview

by Richard Nolan

          On 4 and 5 December, before the SISPAT Conference in Singapore, Canada and the United States with the Government of Singapore, will conduct a 1.5-day workshop on the basics of stockpiling critical medical materiel. The workshop will help nations create their own capability for responding to large-scale public health disasters.
          In today’s world, every nation is vulnerable to large-scale public health disasters. Natural disasters and technological accidents will not observe national borders. A bioterrorism attack on one country will spread quickly to others in today’s mobile world. The response to these events will require large quantities of pharmaceuticals and other medical supplies. Unfortunately, hospitals, distributors, and manufacturers hold just enough inventory to satisfy routine requirements. A national emergency will likely deplete their stocks. Without a national stockpile of medical supplies, countries may not have the resources to prevent major death and suffering.
          The creation and operation of a national stockpile is a complex endeavor that requires significant planning, effort, and expense. Nations must decide what to stock, how to purchase, where to stock, how to stock, how to deliver, and how to train local communities to use stockpile materiel. While these actions are the same for every country, the answers will be unique for each country.
          The experience of countries that have created their own stockpiles will help others understand what they must consider to design a stockpile that satisfies their national requirements. Canada has had a stockpile for years to respond to national disasters. Its success in the face of restrained budgets will be particularly relevant. The US’ Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) is relatively new, but tested. Since its inception in 1999, it has demonstrated repeatedly its ability to arrive at the site of national emergencies within 12 hours of the federal order to deploy.
          The workshop will feature separate chronological scenarios to discuss stockpiling issues for dealing with chemical and biological scenarios. As each scenario evolves, participants will discuss how they would request, receive, distribute, dispense, and protect a national stockpile. U.S. and Canadian representatives will facilitate the discussions using examples from their own experience.
          Each participant will receive a written handout that describes essential issues and actions for creating and maintaining a stockpile.

Workshop highlights

Chairman: Steve Bice
Co-Chairman: Lionel Lee

Introduction by Chairman/Co-chairman on the aims and execution of the workshop.
Establishing a Stockpile of Essential Medical Supplies Issues and Actions: Richard Nolan, USA
Stockpiling On a Small Budget: Colin A. Harwood, Canada
Review of Nerve Agent Cases in Japan (Awaiting Confirmation)
The Dark Winter Exercise on Smallpox: Michael Garstang, UK
Introduction to biological and chemical scenarios whose response requires a stockpile of critical medical materiel.
Break-off sessions for group discussions to discuss command/control/request issue.
Plenary session for selected group’s discussions to discuss command/control/ request issue.
Break-off sessions for group discussions on stage/transport issues.
Plenary session for selected groups to present on stage/transport issue.
Summing up by Chairman and Co-Chairman.