News

January 17, 2019

Glenwood Regional Medical Center Joins Innovative Effort to Solve America’s Drug Shortage Crisis

West Monroe, LA – Glenwood Regional Medical Center a Steward family hospital, will be a part of Civica Rx, a new, innovative effort to ensure essential generic medications are available, affordable and accessible to all. Civica Rx is a highly‐collaborative not‐for‐profit generic drug company whose mission is to drive down costs and increase supply of life‐saving medicines. Glenwood’s participation in the initiative is made possible thanks to the hospital being part of Steward Health Care, the largest privately operated health care network in the United States, and a founding member of Civica Rx.

Glenwood Regional Medical Center and Steward Health Care join prominent health systems, including Mayo Clinic and HCA Healthcare, to sign on with Civica. Overall, approximately 800 U.S. hospitals have joined the venture, with many more health systems expressing interest. Through a collaborative approach, the partnership will identify the production needs of in‐demand drugs and develop high‐quality FDA approved medications at affordable prices, closing gaps in the drug marketplace.

“Glenwood Regional Medical Center and Steward are proud to join Civica because a new, highly‐collaborative, approach is needed to solve America’s drug shortage crisis,” said Dr. Joseph Weinstein, Chief Medical Officer of Steward Health Care. “Over the past decade, Steward has created a different kind of health care company, one that prioritizes wellness and unlocks access to high‐quality, affordable care – which aligns with the critically important mission of Civica.”

“We are thrilled to welcome these highly‐regarded health systems to Civica as founding members,” said Martin VanTrieste, CEO of Civica Rx. “Drug shortages have become a national crisis where patient treatments and surgeries are canceled, delayed or suboptimal. We thank these organizations for joining us to make essential generic medicines accessible and affordable in hospitals across the country.”

Civica Rx expects to bring over 14 hospital‐administered generic drugs to hospitals and health care systems in 2019 as the initial focus of the company’s efforts, with many additional medications prioritized by the health care systems as the next phase of focus for the company. 

About Civica Rx 
Civica Rx was established by philanthropies and leading health systems in the U.S. to ensure essential generic medicines are consistently accessible and affordable within a robust and reliable supply chain. Civica Rx, a not‐for‐profit, non‐stock generic drug manufacturing company, acts in the best interest of patients who are at risk during drug shortages that are created by inconsistent, unpredictable, and often unstable market dynamics. As part of Civica Rx’s business model, health systems and philanthropy partners determine the drugs that Civica Rx manufactures based largely on the most urgent need. The process for drug selection goes through a newly created Civica Rx Drug Selection Advisory Committee, with medications to manufacture ultimately approved by Civica Rx’s governing board.

Civica Rx is collaborating with the American Hospital Association’s (AHA) newly formed AHA Center for Health Innovation to address inquiries about the initiative. Health systems and hospitals may call 800‐242‐4677 with questions, or visit www.civicarx.org for information.