CCA calls for more data-sharing to strengthen cool chain

At today’s sixth annual Bioscience Conference in Brussels, delegates at the Cool Chain Association (CCA) event called for more information-sharing among pharmaceutical stakeholders to build a more secure and efficient supply chain that meets the customized needs of today’s patients.

“There will be a differentiated future – a much broader range of products, a natural split between the very cheap accessible products in the local supermarket and very personal products, which are very high value,” said speaker Niels van Namen, UPS’ vice president and managing director for healthcare in Europe. “There will be a much broader range of delivery channels. We are already delivering to the patient at home, and that can mean a nurse giving the injection.’

Namen continued, saying the industry needs to have a physical infrastructure that is “knitted together” to ensure the right products end up with the right patients.

While the delegates at the event generally described recent advancements in the global temperature control of sensitive cargo was improving, there remains a concern over siloed information. “The chain is not there yet,” said pharma logistics expert Yoram Eshel. “We are not good at sharing information,” between regulators, pharma agencies and forwarders.

“My message is do not be afraid to share information,” Eshel added. “The pharma industry, together with all logistics stakeholders need to work hand in hand in order to improve product integrity and patient health and safety.”

“As an industry, starting from the shipper all the way to the patient, we should also think about the challenges faced by the people delivering on the last mile through jungles and up mountains,” said Cool Chain Association Chairman Stavros Evangelakakis. “There are thousands of preventable deaths of infants under five years old every day and we should be part of the solution.”