This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
36


Issue 1 2012


///PHARMACEUTICALS


Transaid gets to grips with developing world logistics


Pharmaceuticals is considered one of the trickier areas of logistics, even in developed countries. But the problems of temperature sensitive products, the need for precision across thousands of different product lines and the need to deliver to hundreds of clinics and pharmacies are even greater in Africa or parts of Asia. But despite the problems, many


countries are beginning to develop a viable logistics infrastructure capable of reaching into some of the more remote regions – thanks in no small part to the efforts of the experts at Transaid. Transaid is an international UK


development charity that aims to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods across Africa and the developing world by creating better transport systems. It does this by building local skills and knowledge


Essential medicines roll off a Lake Victoria ferry in Uganda. Transaid has worked with the government to better manage its vehicle fleet and evaluate how it might work more closely with private 3PLs.


to make transport safer, cheaper, cleaner and more effective, ensuring better access to the essentials of everyday life such as healthcare, education and training, and economic opportunities. With a history going back over


25 years and strongly supported by the European transport and logistics industry, it combines this expertise with longstanding experience of working in the developing world, partnering with organisations in the public


TNT enters the medicine market


TNT Express has launched PharmaSafe, a specialised temperature-controlled service for the transport of large quantities of pharmaceutical products, such as vaccines and insulin. PharmaSafe is designed to


tackle the main challenge facing pharmaceutical supply chains: the lack of control and visibility inherent in the involvement of too many parties -typically more than 20 for an air shipment. Most errors occur when shipments change hands. Risks include damage to packaging, customs clearance delays, and most importantly temperature deviations, which can incur major costs for pharma companies and affect products. According to the World Health Organization, every fourth vaccine reaches its destination in a degraded state because of incorrect shipping. PharmaSafe aims to simplify


and secure the international movements of high-value, oſten life-saving, pharmaceutical products requiring strict


temperature control. TNT says it will control the full supply chain, from packaging procurement to delivery and using its own aircraſt, handling stations, collection and delivery networks, as well as in- house customs clearance experts. PharmaSafe is based on what


TNT claims is one of the best passive containers currently available, the va-Q-tainer. The carrier says that the re-usable passive container’s reliability is such that insurance companies have, in some instances, cut premiums by 50 % for pharmaceutical


companies


that use it. They are capable of maintaining the required inside temperature (frozen, refrigerated or controlled room temperature) for over 120 hours without electrical power supply or dry ice, even in extreme outside temperatures. TNT is offering rental of pre-conditioned, ready to “load and go” va-Q-tainers. PharmaSafe also offers real


time tracking of location and temperature from end to end.


Sensors measure the temperature of the shipment inside and outside the va-Q-tainer throughout the transport, including in flight. The information is transmitted in real time to TNT’s 24/7 PharmaSafe Management Centre by a GSM transponder that can be used on TNT’s aircraſt, helping to detect, predict and correct any temperature excursion without customers having to take action themselves. TNT Express sends customers detailed


a shipment and


temperature report immediately aſter delivery. PharmaSafe complements TNT


Express’ range of specialised services to the healthcare industry, which include Clinical Express, Hospital Express and Direct-to-Pharmacy. Demand for temperature- controlled air transport


and private sector including


local community organisations, governments, institutions and donors to build capability and achieve its aims. This collaborative approach enables Transaid to provide innovative solutions to some of the key challenges facing transport and development today. Transaid was founded by Save


the Children and The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and its Patron is HRH The Princess Royal. It started life in the 1980s, in response to Save the Children’s response to a famine in East Africa. It has done a lot of work since then to build up transport capacity in all sorts of sectors and countries


– mainly in Africa – working with governments and the private sector. And one of its key focuses is on pharmaceutical logistics, explains chief executive, Gary Forster. Getting pharmaceuticals


produced abroad to the country of consumption is less of an issue than in-country distribution, he says. Temperature-controlled air and seafreight is available and there will generally be a suitable receiving facility at the airport or port of entry. (Though lack of funds to buy drugs in the first place is an issue for many poorer nations.) There are oſten issues with bad roads, missing bridges and lack of suitable temperature-controlled transport to contend with. The pharmaceutical logistics


problem is in fact part of a wider problem of access to healthcare in rural areas of poor countries; Transaid has also done work on developing local community based services including bicycle ambulances and helping to source motorbikes for health workers to access remote and scattered populations. However, a lot can be achieved


by making the best use of the resources that are available. Drugs are generally available


in urban areas but many rural people in Africa may be faced with a journey of 25 miles or more over atrocious roads and with little organised transport just to buy basic drugs in the nearest clinic. Even where rural clinics do exist they may not always be well stocked.


Much of the relatively small Transaid teams’ work is in helping local communities, health services and other authorities manage and schedule fleets to ensure maximum use of resources and eliminate wasteful running. They also help governments and national health authorities weigh up the pros and cons of outsourcing to third party logistics companies, or how to manage any 3PLs that are selected. In other words, dealing with very much the same sort of logistics issues that would be encountered in other parts of the world. Gary Forster explains: “Where


we have had the biggest successes has been in implementing basic fleet management principles. Yes, there are some geographical and infrastructure issues, but a lot can be achieved by managing the fleets you have got more efficiently. We also do a lot of work in helping governments


understand the


issues in outsourcing operations to the private sector – you need a capable 3PL and a government that understands the issues.” In some areas, there are good 3PLs but governments still need the skills to manage them effectively. Transaid’s approach is not to


send in huge teams of experts to ‘solve’ problems but rather help local people develop the skills they need to solve the issues for themselves. A lot of its time is spent training people and disseminating best practice. “We’re fortunate in being


supported by the UK logistics industry,” adds Forster. “There is a certain amount of expertise that we can call on.”


Track and trace key to success for Palletways


Dez Shirley, managing director of Palletways 51 - a member of the Palletways delivery network – says his company has many years’ experience in working within the pharmaceutical industry. It most recently won a contract with Kent Pharmaceuticals, Britain’s largest independent pharmaceutical manufacturer. Palletways 51 is one of 100 plus


of


pharmaceutical products is expected to grow by 12 % annually over the next five years, fuelled by stricter regulations on risk control and increasing global demand for medicine, TNT adds.


Palletways member companies which make up the UK distribution network and provide a range of express delivery services for small consignments of goods across the country as well as to mainland Europe. Traceability is essential in this sector due to the type of


Palletways 51 has years of experience in pharma


commodity with track and trace in case manufacturers or distributors need to recall any batches handled. Palletways is also accredited by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Palletways


51 moves mainly whole pallets along with some


part loads. Kent Pharmaceutical director,


Ashley Amos said: “We chose Palletways 51 as they have an excellent reputation in the marketplace and we felt this would be a real asset for our business and enhance our service to our customers.”


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40