U.S. President Joe Biden promises to boost the U.S. medicine supply chain by invoking a Cold War-era measure. White House announced this effort on Monday, Nov. 27.

The U.S. government is specifically talking about the Defense Production Act, which will be used as part of Biden's efforts to lower costs for American families. 

(Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Activists protest the price of prescription drug costs in front of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) building on October 06, 2022, in Washington, DC. The demonstration was sponsored by the Make Meds Affordable campaign.

But, how will the Defense Production Act help attract more investments in U.S. manufacturing of medicines and other health supplies? Here's what the White House said. 

Joe Biden to Boost US Medicine Supply Chain

According to Fox Business' latest report, Joe Biden has considered medicines and other medical supplies important for national defense. Because of this, he included the health supply chain in his new series of efforts to improve the U.S. economy. 

"President Biden is announcing nearly 30 new actions to strengthen supply chains critical to America's economic and national security," said the White House via its official press release. 

One of these new actions is authorizing the Department of Health and Human Services to take advantage of powers under the Defense Production Act. 

To make this happen, the American leader will broaden the HHS' authority under the legislation's Title III. The U.S. government explained that this will allow investments in essential medicines.

Specifically, the use of DPA Title III will enable investments in medical countermeasures, critical inputs, as well as domestic manufacturing of essential medicines.

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Other Efforts to Enhance US Medicine Supply Chain 

(Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) U.S. President Joe Biden listens as Mark Anthony Thomas, the President & CEO of the Greater Baltimore Committee & Baltimore Tech Hubs coalition, introduces him at an event at the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House on October 23, 2023, in Washington, DC.

The White House said that the Department of Health and Human Services already identified $35 million for investments in domestic production of critical starting materials for sterile injectable medicines. 

Now, HHS officials also plan to designate a new Supply Chain Resilience and Shortage Coordinator, which is expected to enhance the resilience of critical food and medical product supply chains. 

The new SCRSC will also address medical, food, and other similar supplies. HHS explained that they are planning to institutionalize this coordination to advance the department's supply chain resilience and shortage mitigal goals. 

Aside from these, the U.S. Department of Defense will soon release a new report on pharmaceutical supply chain resilience. It will focus on lessening the resilience of high-risk foreign suppliers.

"These actions are a subset of the Administration's broader work to increase access to essential medicines and medical products," said the White House.

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