Pharmacy Daily | NPSA prepped for seasonal disasters

PHARMACY wholesalers have strengthened their distribution logistics to provide "additional certainty for the medicine supply chain" ahead of a summer of potential natural disasters, the National Pharmaceutical Services Association (NPSA) reports.

With temperatures set to rise in the coming months and the La Nina weather cycle increasing the threat of cyclones and flooding, NPSA Chair, Richard Vincent, said wholesalers were braced to deal with situations where communities are cut off or have spikes in medicine demands.

"Throughout 2020 our member companies have demonstrated expertise in crisis situations with successful management of health logistics during the bushfires and COVID-19, both of which have placed extraordinary pressure on all supply chains," he said.

"We have been able to use this experience to further enhance our capability and agility to service community pharmacy, patients and governments during challenging situations.

"Rapid response teams are ready to be activated across our distribution network along with disaster management strategies for our road transport teams.

"We understand that every disaster is different and presents our network with a unique set of challenges.

"Our members are well placed to respond and help manage spikes in demand and shortages in medicine supplies where possible, something which occurred in Mar and Apr this year as COVID-19 panic buying took hold."

Vincent noted that wholesalers have increased information sharing and invested heavily in boosting storage capacity, with two new automated distribution centres being opened in NSW and Victoria during the year, delivering additional storage capacity of 60,000m2 online.

"We want the community to know that the various segments of the medicines supply chain have never been more connected, from government, manufacturer, distributor, pharmacy and through to patient with increased information sharing and dialogue," he said.