With the hope of driving down the cost of life-saving medicines, Dallas-based Steward Health Care helped found Civica Rx, a nonprofit drug company that focuses on generic medicines.
Steward joins Mayo Clinic, HCA Healthcare and a total of 800 hospitals nationwide to form a network that will help identify quantities needed for in-demand drugs and develop medications at affordable prices. As an initial effort, Civica wants to help hospitals and healthcare systems obtain 14- generic drugs in 2019.
A release says that Civica “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.”
“Steward is 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 via statement. “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 via statement. “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.”
Steward operates 36 hospitals nationwide and is headquartered in Dallas, HCA operates the Medical City hospitals in Dallas, and Mayo has partnered with the Methodist system in North Texas.
