From 4 to 7 May, over 6,500 participants will gather in Gothenburg when Vitalis, the Nordic region’s leading forum for the future of healthcare and social care, is taking place. One of the key issues on the agenda is pharmaceutical distribution, and in particular the concept of GDP.
GDP stands for Good Distribution Practice, an EU regulatory framework designed to ensure that medicines maintain the required quality standards throughout the entire journey from manufacturer to recipient. But what does this actually mean in practice when a medicine is being distributed, whether it is being delivered to a hospital, a pharmacy or all the way to a patient’s home?
"In essence, GDP is about ensuring that the medicine is of the same quality when it reaches its final destination as when it left the manufacturer", says Linus Aleberg, Head of Quality & Sustainability at Gordon, a Key Partner of Vitalis.
"This applies regardless of whether the delivery is to a pharmacy, a hospital or directly to a patient. The quality and safety requirements are the same throughout the entire supply chain."
He believes that it often sounds simple in theory, but that the reality is often far more complex.
"The entire supply chain must operate without interruption. Warehousing, transport, temperature control and documentation – it’s all interconnected. It’s not enough for just one part to work well; the entire process must be secure."
The risks lie in the transitions
According to Linus Aleberg, the greatest risks do not arise in the individual steps, but in the transitions between them.
"It is when a medicine leaves a warehouse, changes hands or reaches the next stage in the supply chain that the risk increases. This could be a pharmacy, a hospital or the patient’s final destination", says Linus.
"It is at these stages that temperature can be affected, information can be lost or traceability can be compromised."
That is precisely why structure and accountability are crucial.
"Clear processes, trained staff and systems that track every delivery in real time are absolutely essential. When everyone knows their responsibilities and the information accompanies the product, the risks are drastically reduced."
Digital traceability is changing the game
One of the biggest changes in the industry is the rise of digitalisation. Today, it is possible to track a delivery in real time throughout the entire supply chain.
"We can track the location of a delivery, whether it’s on its way to a hospital, a pharmacy or a patient. We can also monitor temperature and other critical parameters in real time. If anything goes wrong, we can take immediate action, rather than discovering the problem after the event."
But it’s not just about control.
"It creates transparency. We can analyse flows, identify areas of risk and continuously improve the quality of our distribution", says Linus Alberg.
Logistics is an integral part of patient safety
Ensuring that medicines arrive in the right condition is not just a logistical issue, but a matter of patient safety.
"Whether the medicine is delivered to a healthcare facility or directly to a patient, the requirements are the same. Incorrect handling can affect both efficacy and safety", says Linus.
He describes logistics as an integral part of healthcare.
"Ultimately, GDP is all about trust. Healthcare providers, pharmacies and patients must be able to trust that the medicine is safe every step of the way."
As healthcare changes, the demands increase
The move towards more local healthcare and a greater number of delivery points is placing new demands on logistics.
"The supply chain becomes longer and more complex when medicines need to reach a wider range of recipients – not just hospitals and pharmacies, but also patients at home", says Linus.
"The main challenge is to maintain the same high standards of quality and safety throughout the entire process."
At the same time, Linus Aleberg sees opportunities.
"With the right digital tools and clear quality processes, we can create solutions that are safe, effective and more patient-centred", he says.
Meet Gordon at Vitalis in Gothenburg
The focus is on the future of healthcare logistics when Vitalis will take place in Gothenburg on 4–7 May – the Nordic region’s leading event for e-health, healthcare and social care.
Gordon is a Key Partner of Vitalis, and Linus Aleberg is one of the team members from Gordon who will be attending.
"We look forward to discussing how we can work together to build a safer and more efficient pharmaceutical distribution system, regardless of where the delivery takes place", says Linus Aleberg.
