Thank you FedEx for giving the Founder of BookDoc to opportunity to share his thoughts as a contributor on the importance of healthcare and logistics!
Read the full article here : http://fedexbusinessinsights.com/en/healthcare/cold-chain-logistics-is-more-important-than-ever/
When a healthcare crisis hits, cold chain logistics races to the top of the global agenda. From vaccine research to clinical trials to equipping medical centers with the drugs they need, the supply chain is crucial to all citizens, not just the sick. But just what’s next for cold chain: where is the industry headed?
We’ll start at the beginning. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines cold chain as an end-to-end system of storing and transporting vaccines or healthcare products at desired temperatures from the point of manufacture to the point of use. The need for such a temperature-specific solution is critical for biopharmaceutical, vaccine and clinical trial purposes. Unsurprisingly, demand for these materials is expected to increase alongside the outsourcing trends in the healthcare industry.
Cold chain and COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic really is the black swan that has forced many global healthcare companies to rethink and transform their global supply chain model! Many are changing the way they operate in order to stay relevant – and afloat.
As the search for a vaccine continues, the need for temperature-controlled shipments has become a priority for governments, national media, health insurance and social care. It also weighs heavily on the minds of ordinary global citizens and frontline workers, as it means normalcy can be restored. This is where healthcare logistics comes into play.
Healthcare supply chains require specialized conditions and standards that need to be met by trustworthy logistics providers in order to ensure that prescriptions reach patients in optimal condition. Some of these precise conditions include temperature control, humidity levels, and security.
COVID-19 has and continues to impact communities around the world, causing supply chain backlogs, shortages in medical aid deliveries and other medical related delays. That is why the successful delivery of life-saving medicines, especially in times of COVID-19, relies heavily on a reliable logistics provider who can continue to deliver in even the most disruptive of circumstance.
For example, my team and I developed BookDoc, which is an end-to-end digital healthcare platform to connect patients and medical practitioners across Asia Pacific. Although BookDoc was established before the pandemic, the virus has made us realize the importance of linking those in need of medical solutions to healthcare professionals remotely. Malaysia was a suitable launching pad for BookDoc in Southeast Asia because of the country’s solid telecommunication infrastructure, smart phone penetration, abundance of the middle class and strong rule of law.
Cold chain logistics plays a large role in a patient’s journey from detection and diagnosis to adherence, particularly regarding prescription medication which is often sent through cold chain. It is important that prescriptions sourced far from the patient’s location arrive quickly and in perfect condition.
