Need to change mindset of pharma logistics players: Pharma Logistics Summit 2017
Feb 03, 2017: Discussions ranged from changing mindset to making right management decisions in order to experience an efficient pharma trade lane, at the first edition of Pharma Logistics Summit 2017, which saw the conglomeration of regulatory authorities, supply chain heads of pharmaceutical companies and logistics service providers.
The summit, organised by Indian Transport & Logistics News (ITLN) was held in Mumbai on Thursday, sensing the growth potential of the industry in India.
The day-long summit discussed key issues and steps to be taken to ensure end-to-end visibility in the pharmaceutical supply chain. The summit also deliberated on reliable airline pharma services.
Speaking on the kind of challenges the shippers face, Thomas Mathew, Consultant, Haffkine Bio Pharmaceutical Corporation emphasized on the requirement of moral training for the ground level workers, who should be aware of what kind of pharmaceuticals they are handling. “There should not be segregating but a collective responsibility in the supply chain. In the logistics aspect, when we entrust people for particular work, they should have integrity and dedication.”
Vivek Acharya, Principal Consultant Pharma Supply Chain, SynCore Consulting seconded the views of Mathew and raised concern that although there is a heightened level of awareness in the country with respect to maintaining the right temperature of pharmaceuticals, violations still happen during the course of air transit. “Sometime the spirit is lost. Although the beginning and end temperature comply, you might find all kind of violations happening in course of the journey.” Acharya also pointed out that in remote airport areas, there is power inconsistency, road networks are not very good and sometimes simple reasons like truck drivers not carrying necessary documents or fuel shortage stops trucks for 36 to 48 hours. Acharya added that there should be heightened awareness when it comes to solving these problems.
Meanwhile, Alban Francis, Vice President, Brussels Airlines Cargo commented, “It is all about trust in your partners and also giving the right tools.” Brussels Airlines Cargo is soon going to include Mumbai to its network. “We want to do pharma shipments out of Mumbai and to Mumbai. So we will perform an audit here in the upcoming weeks.” He went on to say that mindset is vital and awareness for every single person is a key requirement. “Awareness comes with training. We also have to do right management decisions and people management is part for me of a good mindset and how do we plan stuff.”
The discussion emphasized that different parties across the entire value chain could be trying hard at their own level, but they seem to be working in isolation. This compartmentalization between different parties will not help and all stakeholders have to come together. The panel concluded that just having an SOP in place is not enough and there is sheer need for policing and understanding of what is being practiced to a much higher level.
Photo Caption: L-R: Johan Leunen, Alban Francois, Thomas Mathew, Amit Chadha, Vivek Acharya
