Importance of Pharmaceutical Logistics in the Medical Industry

There has been significant growth in the Global medical industry for over a decade. At the same time, access to medicines has enhanced remarkably. The people in all parts of the world have obtained widespread access to pharmaceuticals in the last two decades. This widespread access is due to Pharmaceutical logistics that have developed globally. Logistics deals with the overall management of acquiring, storing and transporting resources to their various destinations.  They have an essential role in the global economic cycle as it serves as a link between manufacturer and retailer.

Pharmaceutical Logistics play a very crucial role in the medical industry as it is very vital that the right medicine reaches the right patient at the right time and also at the right price.  With the rapid growth of the medical industry and its competitive business, it is essential that there is an effective supply chain of pharmaceuticals that include drug manufacturers, traders, raw material providers, transporters and of course the Hospitals they are supplied to.

The objective of pharmaceutical logistics is to provide "access" to medicines, surgical supplies, medical devices and equipment. With lives being at stake all over the world affected by various ailments, accidents or other harm it is very important that proper medication is received and not in the nick of time. Many times the loss of lives is because of the unavailability of certain medical equipment, drugs, facilities or other medical factors. Now, with an increase in various logistic companies worldwide it has certainly become possible to provide pharmaceuticals to people in need, people in various nooks and crannies of the world, provided at the right time. Thousands of lives can be saved if there is medication available without any delay whenever needed and are cost effective. There are certain aspects in the making of pharmaceutical logistics, and they are:-

1. Storage
2. Temperature control
3. Transport services
4. Drug regulatory approvals

Storage:- To store and maintain the stock of drugs and other essential medical products, logistic warehouses come into play. Their main role is to provide storage, reduce costs, save time and optimise the work of the staff.

Temperature control:- Most pharmaceuticals need to be kept at a particular temperature like vaccines, drugs etc. Certain drugs need to be kept away from the sunlight and also from contamination; some drugs require extreme temperatures whereas some are best stored at room temperature.  If there is humidity or moisture content, there are high chances of fungi and bacterial development or certain chemical reactions.  Therefore it is very essential to maintain the required temperature while storing as well as transporting the pharmaceutical products.

Transport services:- Transporting various medicines, equipment and products to their respective destination serve as an important part of logistics. As there may be a matter of life and death, it is crucial for the said products (medicines, medical supplies, equipment) to reach on time and in perfect condition as well.

Drug regulation:- There are specific regulatory standards and stringent norms to be followed by medical logistics to avoid and to manage the expired stock of medicines, and to ensure proper storage and transportation of the medical products.

There are more aspects of the medical industry than manufacturing medicines and providing treatments. Pharmaceutical logistics, i.e. storing, transporting of such medicines, equipment and other medical supplies play an equally important role and are growing rapidly with the increase in both local and global competition. Source:- http://www.crystalgroup.in/