GPLS 2024: Why pharma logistics needs transparent supply chains

The seventh edition of the Global Pharma Logistics Summit (GPLS) unfolded with a robust focus on "Ownership Culture: Building Resilient Supply Chains in Pharma." Held in Mumbai and organised by Indian Transport & Logistics News (ITLN), a STAT Media Group venture, the summit brought together leading figures from the pharmaceutical logistics industry to discuss advancements, challenges, and the future of the supply chain.

Embracing transparency and visibility
One of the key themes of GPLS 2024 was the critical need for transparency and visibility in the pharmaceutical supply chain. This focus was evident in various discussions throughout the day. Sreenivas Rao Nandigam, Global Head of Supply Chain at Sun Pharma, highlighted two major industry trends: increasing uncertainty and stringent regulations. "The two trends I see in the pharma industry are increasing uncertainty, which leads to backups, and more stringent regulations within India," he noted. Nandigam emphasised the role of advanced planning and end-to-end visibility tools in maintaining a smooth supply chain.

Vijay Shetty, Senior Vice President of Global Distribution and Supply Chain at Alkem Laboratories, discussed how critical it is for logistics companies to ensure the safety of pharmaceuticals. "For every pharmaceutical product, there are temperature-sensitive marks. There are also security aspects like theft and visibility about where the product is moving—be it domestic or international," Shetty said. He explained that Alkem is undertaking pilots to improve end-to-end tracking and visibility, which are crucial for maintaining the integrity of pharmaceutical products.

Roland Weil, Vice President of Sales - Cargo at Frankfurt Airport, emphasised the importance of monitoring every stage of the pharmaceutical supply chain. "We should ensure that there are no gaps in the pharmaceutical supply chain. We want to ensure that the moment the cargo enters the airport, the entire process from the transition to the warehouse to the ground handler and the next destination, every process can be tracked in terms of where it is or in what temperature it is in. Our aim is to monitor every process," Weil said. His comments underscored the need for comprehensive tracking to prevent disruptions or quality issues in the supply chain.

Challenges and innovations in medical device logistics
The summit also addressed the intricacies of medical device logistics, with Binu Vijay Kumar, General Manager of Supply Chain at Thermo Fisher Scientific, pointing out the peculiar regulatory challenges in India. "Regulatory challenges are very peculiar, particularly in India. After COVID, we have seen more diversification and decentralisation. Collaboration is important in the industry, but is everyone sharing the same vision?" Kumar asked.

Yulia Celetaria, Head of Logistics at EarlyHealth Group, echoed the need for standardisation to alleviate pressures in the supply chain. "The biggest challenge that I see is the lack of standardisation. This creates pressure on everyone in the supply chain. Emerging technologies are already here but we just need to accept them," Celetaria said.

Technological integration and future directions
Technology's role in enhancing visibility and efficiency in logistics was a recurring theme. Gaurav Bhatia, Head of Planning and General Manager of Supply Chain at Reliance Retail Pharma, underscored the importance of the skill sets required to utilise data effectively. "More skill sets are required to know how to utilise the data. Technology is playing an important role today, and it will always play an important role in logistics," Bhatia stated.

Preeti Saluja, Regional Business Head at Aeris Dynamics, discussed advancements in packaging technology. "Technology is available to monitor the temperature of packaging, and we are well prepared, packaging-wise, to handle pharma shipments. Even before shipments reach the patient, there are ways to predict that temperature excursions will happen," Saluja said. She emphasised the need for packaging providers to better understand shippers' needs to improve the effectiveness of their solutions.

The role of leadership and gender diversity
Leadership in fostering a sense of responsibility within supply chains was another topic of discussion. Pramod Patvardhan, API Regional Supply Head at GSK, stressed the importance of awareness and education. "Awareness and education are more important in the industry. I think leaders should also focus on that," Patvardhan said.

Ashu Gupta, Vice President of Supply Chain at Koye Pharmaceuticals, addressed gender diversity in the industry. "Women are born supply chain managers; it all starts at home. So why is there less participation of women in the pharma industry in India? I think males must accept women in the industry," Gupta remarked. Rashmi Iyer, Head of Distribution at Merck Life Science, agreed, highlighting that increased female participation brings unique perspectives to the industry.

Future-proofing the pharma supply chain
The summit's discussions also delved into preparing for future challenges in pharma logistics. Keyur Parikh, Head of Supply Chain at Galderma India, emphasised the importance of last-mile delivery and sustainability. "Last-mile safe delivery of the drugs is important. The question is also, are we prepared today and ready for the future regarding sustainability?" Parikh asked.

Arnab Bhattacharya, Senior Regional Director at Marken, noted the evolving nature of pharmaceutical logistics. "Pharmaceuticals is a very evolving topic, and it evolves every day. I think logistics also need to evolve. Since it's an evolving subject, there's no way to say this is correct or wrong," Bhattacharya said.

Innovative approaches and industry outlook
The summit also featured discussions on innovative logistics approaches, including using drones for last-mile delivery. Rishabh Gupta, Co-Founder of Redwing Labs, highlighted significant advancements in this area. He shared a compelling example of how drone technology has improved delivery times in challenging regions. "In India, the primary focus will be on healthcare, delivering pharmaceutical products in regions difficult to reach by land," Gupta explained. He elaborated on a recent achievement where his team delivered a shipment in less than an hour, typically 6-7 hours, by conventional means, showcasing the transformative potential of drone logistics.

Vishnu Ramakrishnan, Head of Business and Product Commercialisation at The ePlane Company pointed out the regulatory challenges and cost issues associated with drone deliveries. "The focus for businesses right now is the ease of doing business," Ramakrishnan said.

A literary contribution to the industry
The event also featured a notable book launch by Dr. Ravi Prakash Mathur, Vice President of Supply Chain Management at Dr. Reddy's Laboratories. Dr Mathur introduced his latest work, "Strategic Value Chains: Unlocking Business Success in the Digital Age," which delves into strategies for optimising business value chains in an increasingly digital world. The book launch was a highlight of the summit, adding an intellectual dimension to the discussions on supply chain management.

Vision for the future
Tushar Jani, Group Chairman of the Cargo Service Center, initiated the summit with an inspiring call to action. "Let's make ourselves champions. Let's make our pharma industry the champion and show the world what India can do. A large amount of European pharma comes from India. Run from India, managed from India, and delivered to the world - we can do it. It's not impossible," Jani asserted. His remarks encapsulated the spirit of innovation and resilience that characterises GPLS 2024.

The Global Pharma Logistics Summit 2024 provided a comprehensive platform for discussing the future of pharmaceutical logistics, emphasising transparency and visibility. The insights shared by industry leaders underscore the critical need for advanced technologies, regulatory compliance, and leadership in shaping a resilient and efficient supply chain. As the pharmaceutical industry continues to evolve, the lessons and innovations discussed at GPLS 2024 will play a crucial role in driving progress and enhancing the effectiveness of global pharma logistics.