DHL brings together industry leaders to discuss key supply chain issues in pharma sector

DHL Supply Chain, the global market leader for contract logistics solutions, recently concluded a successful customer event, ‘Unlocking Supply Chain in Healthcare and Life Science Logistics’ in Mumbai. Well attended by key professionals from the healthcare industry, the event deliberated on relevant topics related to challenges and opportunities in the overall supply chain in the pharmaceutical industry. These included distribution and channel management, benefits of collaborated and integrated supply chains, current regulatory issues facing the life sciences and healthcare sector along with new insights and opportunities for clinical research in India.

Prakash Rochlani, Vice President – Business Development, South & South East Asia, DHL Supply Chain said, “Targeting the life sciences and healthcare industry, this event provided an ideal opportunity for collaboration, discussion and networking between sector experts and the pharma industry. To stay ahead in today’s dynamic environment it is paramount to understand the industry’s issues and challenges, skillfully adapt and respond with increasing flexibility to changes and embrace new trends.”

He further added, “At DHL, we work closely with our customers to ensure that we offer a comprehensive range of services across the entire supply chain, from initial consultancy and design, to the last mile delivery along with reverse logistics.”

Speakers included Pratin Vete, Associate Director – Business Advisory Services, Ernst & Young, TR Prasad, Associate Director – Operations, Abbott India, and Dr Sofi Joseph, Head – Regulatory Operations, Pfizer attended the event.

Speaker presentations highlighted the expected growth in the Indian pharma industry at 1.5 to 2 times the GDP growth of India due to several factors which include increased literacy, higher per capita income, improved healthcare access and greater market penetration. It was estimated that distribution and channel management initiatives can improve sales by atleast 4-5 per cent per annum, thereby extending the life cycle of a product. With distribution being highly unorganised in India and its complexity increasing over the years, especially in Tier-II cities, it was felt that supply chain managers have an excellent opportunity to penetrate the market and increase distribution efficiencies through smart logistics.

As the global leader in healthcare logistics, DHL Supply Chain is capitalising on the opportunity in the life sciences and healthcare industry in India, which is estimated to reach $100 billion by 2015, growing at 20 per cent every year to touch $280 billion by 2020, on the back of increasing demand for specialized and quality healthcare facilities.

DHL Supply Chain recognises the need to drive value and competitive advantage through integrated and optimised logistics solutions which will help transform the industry. The company operates over 150 life sciences facilities worldwide to support its global life sciences and healthcare strategy. Last year DHL Supply Chain introduced its first state-of-the-art life sciences facility in India, located within its newly constructed 56.000 square metre multi-customer distribution centre in Mumbai. This world class infrastructure assists in meeting the industry’s increasing logistics and warehousing needs with capabilities to distribute to wholesalers, pharmacists and hospitals based on customer demands. This includes innovative services to manufacturers of pharma products from order management to warehousing and distribution. Additionally, DHL’s services are customised to the needs of the medical devices and pharma industry, including very specific solutions such as postponement services, clinical trials logistics and order-to-cash.

DHL Supply Chain provides unrivalled experience and capability in compliant, specialist supply chain solutions to the global healthcare industry, to help their customers succeed.

EP News Bureau – Mumbai