LOGISTICS & DISTRIBUTION
In the healthcare industry, supply chains form the backbone of clinical delivery, from securing essential medicines to safeguarding temperature-sensitive vaccines. That’ s where an effective cold chain is vital. When failures occur, the consequences go beyond financial performance – patient safety, treatment efficacy and public health all hang in the balance.
Across the globe, logistical pressures challenge health systems of all sizes.
In the UK, the National Audit Office reports that NHS Supply Chain manages around US $ 4.5bn in procurement spend each year, yet 26.9 % of orders arrive late, by 22 days on average. Meanwhile, in Ethiopia, a cold chain study shows 72.1 % average availability, with stock-outs at 26 % and expiration wastage at 9.2 %. Across the pond, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists is currently tracking 253 active drug shortages.
These figures are just a snapshot of how under pressure healthcare supply chains truly are. For health providers and logistics experts alike, the work of transforming these chains is urgent and complex.
Redesigning resilience At Intermountain Healthcare, supply chain transformation is at the heart of its operating model.
Richard Beach, AVP of Logistics and Materials Management, leads logistics strategy across the organisation. In a recent statement, he explained:“ Developing a long-term strategic plan first requires an understanding of what improvement opportunities exist.
supplychaindigital. com 167