Pittsylvania County Public Safety and the County’s 11 volunteer organizations that offer first responder EMS transport services are now required to establish pharmacies for use when responding to calls.

The requirement stems from the Drug Supply Chain Security Act under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and enforcement begins November 27, 2024. Previously, hospitals and health systems provided EMS agencies with pre-filled drug kit exchange systems as well as replenishment of used or expired drugs contained within the kits.

To comply with the new regulations, Pittsylvania County Public Safety has created a pharmacy room, and the agency will be licensed as a controlled facility. These requirements are designed to ensure the accountability of narcotics and other medications.

The estimated cost to establish the individual Public Safety pharmacy room is about $35,000, and the County’s volunteer agencies will have to provide comparable accommodations, according to Chris Key, Director of Public Safety, Pittsylvania County. The agencies will also have to obtain the necessary controlled substance registry license through the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

The Pittsylvania County Fire and Rescue Commission has set up a committee to work with the affected agencies to ensure compliance.