Page 14 - ITLN January - February 2025

Feature
Pharma Logistics

Supply chain challenges

of personalised drugs,

and ways to tackle them

The task for all players in the chain is to remember what is at stake here - a patient’s
life and how best to ensure medicines reach them on time and in desired condition.
Jyothi Shankaran
A multi-modality in our supply chains volumes compared to 2023. Given the
growing market, a
potential of these two major pharma
challenging market, and an
and built-in contingencies."
markets, we expect to grow our share
engrossing market. That
could well be the description
Etihad Cargo’s PharmaLife service
of the Indian pharmaceutical logistics Specialised solutions further by 2025.”
Maersk has reported strong interest
market now and in the coming days, has been extremely well-received in its integrated pharma cold
given the challenges of healthcare, by pharmaceutical shippers in India, chain management
new viruses and personalised according to Giridharan Srinivasan, solution,
medicines becoming the norm. Area General Manager – Indian
2024 was the year when the pharma Subcontinent, Etihad Cargo. "The
industry actually saw the coming- launch of several PharmaLife
of-age of direct-to-patient logistics. roadshows in 2024 substantially
"With the increased focus on biologics, boosted awareness and understanding
specialty pharmaceuticals and of our dedicated life sciences and
personalised medicine, advancements healthcare offering, leading to a
in cold chain technology will need to doubling of PharmaLife volumes
keep up to ensure patients across the within a year.
world continue to receive the quality "India’s pharmaceutical industry,
service and care they deserve," says which exports medicines to over 200
Arnab Bhattacharya, Country Manager, countries, is often cited as producing
UPS Healthcare, India. "We’ve seen between 60-70 percent of the world’s
with our 99.9 percent on-time delivery generic drugs. India’s prominent role
of vaccines, the levels of reliability we as a global pharma hub is driven
can deliver as an industry. by its large-scale generic drug
"The future of cold chain will be manufacturing capabilities and
shaped by five key challenges – the extensive export reach, according to
increased need for deep-frozen and the Indian Brand Equity Foundation
cryogenic storage; on-going and (IBEF) and various government
unexpected disruption to supply reports With over 46,000 tonnes of
chains caused by factors such cargo handled annually and 588
as labour disruptions, shifts in monthly rotations connecting India
manufacturing or added strain on the to over 100 destinations, we have
global freight market; enhanced costs strengthened partnerships within
and complexities of scale; ensuring this vital market.
coordination and collaboration “India is now our #6 PharmaLife
with new entrants into the complex country within Etihad Cargo’s
healthcare value chain; and increased network. Our top stations -
sustainability requirements. Hyderabad and Mumbai - are on an
"We will continue to work closely impressive upward trajectory with
as an industry to plan resilience and a 56 percent increase in shipped
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January - February 2025