When looking into the need for efficient supply chains, you soon notice that several industries rely heavily on the right distribution method. This is evident in the pharmaceutical supply chain as all deliveries need to be well thought out to prevent tablets not being available to audiences. In this article, we will be looking into how the pharmaceutical supply chain works to make the medication available to retailers.
The First Step
The first step of the industry is the creation of new drugs for a range of different illnesses, these are then manufactured in batches. These can be stored until ordered, this is the first crucial step in the supply chain as new drugs are being made to help cater to several different illnesses. These go through a rigorous testing process that helps to ensure that the first step of the supply chain is the most efficient to ensure effective distribution.
Innovative Supply Chains Element
When the first step has been completed, it is then down to the innovative supply chain. When looking at the different distribution methods, it is important to ensure that the drugs being created are distributed to the right locations. This can be distributed in several ways and goes to different places. By ensuring that the distribution is considered, you can then distribute the medication to both hospitals, clinics, retail and wholesale sellers. These help to ensure that the drugs are distributed evenly to the right locations and prevent the shortage of any medication at any time.
Whole Sale
When distributed to a wholesale seller, the drugs are then sold to the retail sector, this allows for pharmacies to gain access to the drugs as well as hospitals and other key stages of the pharmaceutical sector. This also applies to medical equipment distribution companies and other companies who can purchase these drugs as the wholesaler acts as the direct line of communication between the manufacturer and the retail locations that sell this medication to the retailers. They are the crucial step to the distribution process and helps to ensure that there are no shortages over this time.
Retail & Pharmacies
From this step, the retail section of the supply chain then provides the drugs to individuals through prescriptions as well as pain killers in supermarkets. This is another key section to the supply chain and can affect people’s ability to gain access to the medication that they need. Whether this is a prescription medication for general practices or pharmacies, they rely on a well thought out pharmaceutical distribution method. This works around the clock to ensure that there are no shortages as this could be a huge risk to help. This is vital and therefore should be thought out beforehand.
With this in mind, several elements go into the distribution method of drugs to ensure that medication is available to those that need it. But with new technology being invented every day to help streamline this process, how will this change in the near future?