Agency information collection activities: Proposed collection; comment request,

[Federal Register: August 9, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 152)]

[Notices]

[Page 43187-43188]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr09au99-76]

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[INFO-99-25]

Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations

In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC Reports Clearance Officer on (404) 639-7090.

Comments are invited on (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques for other forms of information technology. Send comments to Seleda Perryman, CDC Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Projects

1. Antimalarial Drugs--New--The Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is proposing a survey of pharmacy directors of inpatient health facilities to gain information about the availability of antimalarial medications in their pharmacies. In recent years, CDC has received increasing numbers of reports from health care providers and patients who have been unable to obtain, or experienced delays in obtaining, antimalarial drugs which were needed for patients in the United States who have been diagnosed with malaria. In the case of injectable quinidine gluconate, which is the treatment of choice for severe malaria, these delays in initiating appropriate therapy have been life threatening. The reasons for these shortages have varied from problems in drug supply and distribution from the manufacturer to decisions made by pharmacies to no longer stock the drugs. The American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) will provide CDC with a list of approximately 7,400 pharmacy directors of inpatient institutions in the U.S. Those listed will be surveyed through a mailed questionnaire. Participation in completing the proposed questionnaire will be voluntary. Information collected will include the pharmacy name and location, name of the pharmacy director, number of inpatient beds in the health facility, a list of antimalarial medications currently on formulary and in stock, the procedure and anticipated delay in obtaining injectable quinidine if needed and not currently in stock, and, if quinidine is no longer on formulary, the date it was taken off. Such information is essential for CDC to determine the potential need for and various options to improve the availability of critical antimalarial drugs in the United States. The total estimated cost to respondents is 0.

Number of Average burden Response burden Form

Number of responses per per respondent (total hrs. in respondents respondent (in hrs.)

study)

Questionnaire...............................

7,400

1

0.16

1184

[[Page 43188]]

Nancy Cheal, Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

[FR Doc. 99-20381Filed8-6-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4163-18-P