Supply chain & logistics
IATA’s Guidance for Vaccine and Pharmaceutical Logistics and Distribution includes chapters on:
■ The Constraints and Risks stakeholders need to pre-empt and overcome in order to deliver vaccines where they are needed with no wastage or loss.
■ The Role of NGO’s in the vaccine distribution and procurement process. While NGO’s share the common objective of ensuring that countries have safe, fast and equitable access to the vaccine when available, the role of each organisation varies.
■ Industry Preparedness for vaccine distribution, which includes information that governments and stakeholders need to consider: — Capacity & Connectivity: The global route network has been reduced dramatically from the pre-Covid 24,000 city pairs. Governments need to re-establish air connectivity to ensure adequate capacity is available for vaccine distribution.
— Facilities and infrastructure: Vaccines need to be shipped and stored in a temperature-controlled environment. Some types of refrigerants are classified as dangerous goods. Considerations include availability of infrastructure, facilities and equipment and trained staff to handle time- and temperature-sensitive vaccines.
— Border Management: Timely regulatory approvals and storage and clearance by customs and health authorities will be essential. Priorities for border processes include introducing fast-track procedures for overflight and landing permits for operations carrying the Covid-19 vaccine and considering tariff relief to facilitate the movement of the vaccine.
— Security: Vaccines are highly valuable commodities. Arrangements must be in place to ensure that shipments remain secure from tampering and theft. Processes are in place already, but the huge volume of vaccine shipments will need early planning to ensure that they are scalable.
Source: IATA
The CEIV Pharma document includes guidance on packaging and labelling as well as handling and storage.
and tracking devices. Packaging guidelines include guidance on when to use passive containers – those that employ phase-change materials instead of electrical cooling – and active containers that take advantage of electrical cooling to maintain the temperature of cargo. Data loggers and devices enable the monitoring of, for example, temperature and humidity, during transportation and provide real-time data on any deviations from the required conditions. IATA has developed a guidance document on Battery Powered Cargo Tracking Devices / Data Loggers and recommended practices on the approval and the use of such devices as part
the Interactive Cargo Task Force.
Excellence in pharma logistics IATA’s Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics (CEIV Pharma) is a certification programme that recognises companies that demonstrate excellence in the transportation of pharmaceutical products. The programme provides a globally consistent and recognised standard for the transportation of those products. CEIV Pharma addresses the industry’s need for more safety, security, compliance and efficiency, by the creation of a global product handling certification. CEIV Pharma encompasses, or even supersedes, many of the existing pharmaceutical standards and guidelines such as: IATA Temperature Control Regulations and United States Pharmacopeia Standards. The full list of certified companies is available via IATA ONE Source, the industry platform for validated aviation capability and infrastructure information. The CEIV Pharma certification covers all the same aspects of the transportation process that the Temperature Control Regulations do. Companies that receive this certification have demonstrated their ability to handle pharmaceutical products with care and maintain their quality during transportation.
The CEIV Pharma certification programme provides training for companies to improve their transportation processes. This training enables companies to comply with the required standards and improve their transportation processes to meet the needs of the healthcare industry.
The future of IATA standards IATA standards play a critical role in ensuring the safe and secure transportation of pharmaceutical products. These standards provide guidelines for each individual stage involved in transportation and ensure that the products are stay safely within their required temperature range. By following these standards, companies can ensure they are supplying products in their most refined condition, expel the fear of loss or damage and in doing so, improve the efficiency of the supply chain. In the future, IATA standards are expected to evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of the healthcare industry. This makes it imperative for companies to stay up to date by using the latest edition of the IATA Temperature Control Regulations. As the demand for pharmaceuticals continues to grow globally, it is essential to ensure that they are transported in a safe and secure manner. IATA standards and certifications will continue playing a critical role in meeting this demand and ensuring that patients receive safe and effective medications. ●
26 World Pharmaceutical Frontiers /
www.worldpharmaceuticals.net
Diego Maravilla/
www.shutterstock.com
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