Coordination; task force and strategic plan

As soon as practicable after July 9, 2012, the Secretary shall establish a task force to develop and implement a strategic plan for enhancing the Secretary’s response to preventing and mitigating drug shortages. The strategic plan described in subparagraph (A) shall include— In conducting the examination of a “qualified manufacturing partner program” under subparagraph (B)(v), the Secretary— shall take into account that— In carrying out this paragraph, the task force shall ensure consultation with the appropriate offices within the Food and Drug Administration, including the Office of the Commissioner, the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, the Office of Regulatory Affairs, and employees within the Department of Health and Human Services with expertise regarding drug shortages. The Secretary shall engage external stakeholders and experts as appropriate. Not later than 1 year after July 9, 2012, the task force shall— The Secretary shall ensure that, prior to any enforcement action or issuance of a warning letter that the Secretary determines could reasonably be anticipated to lead to a meaningful disruption in the supply in the United States of a drug described under section 356c(a) of this title, there is communication with the appropriate office of the Food and Drug Administration with expertise regarding drug shortages regarding whether the action or letter could cause, or exacerbate, a shortage of the drug. If the Secretary determines, after the communication described in subsection (b), that an enforcement action or a warning letter could reasonably cause or exacerbate a shortage of a drug described under section 356c(a) of this title, then the Secretary shall evaluate the risks associated with the impact of such shortage upon patients and those risks associated with the violation involved before taking such action or issuing such letter, unless there is imminent risk of serious adverse health consequences or death to humans. The Secretary shall identify or establish a mechanism by which health care providers and other third-party organizations may report to the Secretary evidence of a drug shortage. No determination, finding, action, or omission of the Secretary under this section shall— Subsection (a) shall cease to be effective on the date that is 5 years after July 9, 2012. Subsections (b), (c), and (e) shall not be in effect during the period beginning 5 years after July 9, 2012, and ending on December 29, 2022. Subsections (b), (c), and (e) shall be in effect beginning on December 29, 2022. The Secretary shall ensure timely and effective internal coordination and alignment among the field investigators of the Food and Drug Administration and the staff of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research’s Office of Compliance and Drug Shortage Program regarding—