The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a major challenge for supply chains , but especially for the logistics sector responsible for moving health-related products and goods, whose challenges include the meticulous care of delicate supplies, which require certain specifications for transport and storage, such as vaccines and special biologicals.
Within the framework of the tenth anniversary of the UPS El Sabino distribution center , located in the State of Mexico, the panel Navigating the Future of the Industry was held , where Gustavo Velarde , Director of Foreign Trade and Industrial Policy of the National Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry (Canifarma) , highlighted the importance of having a pharmaceutical policy and a health policy in order to address the regulatory framework of this industry.
In this regard, Velarde stressed that public-private collaboration is necessary to help strengthen this sector.
In his participation, Alberto Angilella , Director of Operations at Farmacias Similares , said that one must “choose your partner well”, in the sense that they have worked excellently with UPS, a company that he considered as “a protective shield”.
He recalled that, at the beginning of their alliance, UPS had no idea how the pharmaceutical market worked, however, he highlighted the evolution of that firm which, with effort and commitment, is currently a benchmark in health logistics .
Simplifying customs procedures and the bureaucracy involved in importing high-importance medicines are the challenges faced by the logistics sector of this type, which is why Angilella pointed out that it is important that there is synergy between the authority and the manufacturer so that the medicines reach those who need them .
Biotechnology products require a cold chain and various logistics processes to ensure that they are maintained and reach the patient in optimal conditions , stressed Alejandro Jiménez , manager of In-market Logistics for Mexico and Panama GLAD, CSL Behring .
For him, the challenges of health logistics lie in recovering and improving the conditions of the roads , as well as combating insecurity in order to move goods without problems, since these factors represent a brake on that industry.
Alejandro Jiménez said that logistical responsibility goes beyond delivering the product, since it involves everything from the creation and development of the medicine to the final stage, which is reaching the patient.
In an interview with T21 , Pedro Rougon , Commercial Director of Strategic Accounts at UPS Healthcare Mexico, who also participated in the panel, said that in the last decade there has been an evolution in the pharmaceutical industry with the development of medicines that require sensitive handling, and it is where logistics operators work to keep them in the best conditions.
The manager identified three challenges facing health logistics : the first is visibility of the logistics chain from the beginning to the end of the process; the second has to do with specialization, which requires proper handling of sensitive products; and the third refers to digitalization, which involves the use of technology to make work more efficient.
If Mexico wants to compete in the health industry, it has to improve its infrastructure, including seaports and customs, so Rougon believes that it is necessary to make visible what is needed to improve logistics, such as security and technology to be able to boost access to health.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) , it is estimated that up to 25% of vaccines are wasted annually due to cold chain failures, underscoring the need for reliable and advanced logistics infrastructure.
In Mexico, the issue of logistics in the health sector has become relevant in light of the shortages that have occurred in recent years. In response to this, on February 15, 2024, guidelines for the distribution of medicines and health supplies as part of the supply chain were published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) , which further emphasizes the importance of proper management of these products.
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