The importance of transport management in the pharmaceutical supply chain

April 2023

The pharmaceutical industry is responsible for producing and distributing life-saving medicines that are critical to the health and well-being of individuals. However, the effectiveness of the supply chain relies heavily on efficient transportation and logistics management.

The transportation of pharmaceutical products from manufacturer to patient requires a complex system of coordination and collaboration between various stakeholders such as manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and logistics providers. The product must be transported in a manner that ensures its quality and integrity; and yet the transport of medicinal products is not a licensable activity. This is where transport management plays a crucial role.

Transport management involves the planning, coordination, and execution of the movement of goods from one location to another; this includes risk assessing routes, carrier assessment & selection, freight management, and the tracking and tracing of shipments. Effective transport management ensures that products are delivered on time, to the right person and in good condition.

Pharmaceutical products can be sensitive to temperature, humidity, light, and shock. Any deviation from the required conditions can affect the product’s quality, efficacy, and safety. Therefore, it is essential to maintain the integrity of the product throughout the entire transportation process. This can require the use of specialized packaging, temperature-controlled containers, and transportation vehicles that are equipped with temperature monitoring systems. Whatever solution you use should be assessed and you should be able to demonstrate its suitability to maintain the labelled conditions of the products being transported.

Effective transport management also helps to minimize the risk of product loss, theft, and damage. This is achieved using secure transportation methods, effective tracking and tracing systems, and proper documentation and labelling. In managing risk pharmaceutical distributors need to ensure they are performing and documenting a robust risk assessment to demonstrate and evidence their chosen method of transportation and the controls in place when potential things go wrong in the transport chain e.g. accidents, cancellations, damages…

The transport of pharmaceutical products requires compliance with Good Distribution Practice (GDP), which sets out standards for the distribution of pharmaceutical products. Failure to comply with these standards can result in regulatory penalties, product recalls, and damage to the supplier’s reputation.

In conclusion, transport management plays a critical role in ensuring the integrity and quality of pharmaceutical products through the supply chain. The pharmaceutical industry requires a high level of coordination, collaboration, and compliance with standards to ensure the efficient, safe and effective transport of products both nationally and globally. The effective use of transport management can lead to improved efficiency, reduced costs, enhanced customer satisfaction and the protection of public health.

Seerpharma UK offer a range of training courses as well as bespoke training. Visit our training page for more details or contact us directly for more information about how we can help.