Ranjeev Menon, Group CEO, GWC
Doha, Qatar: The pharmaceutical industry has taken centre stage since the onset COVID-19 pandemic. The industry is always evolving and noted for its constant innovation. The sector demands trusted partners and stakeholders, particularly in the logistics field.
Ranjeev Menon (pictured), Group CEO, GWC, recognizes the imperative for logistics partners to deliver dedicated and industry-specific solutions for the pharmaceutical sector.
“Ensuring access to healthcare and medication has become an urgent priority,” said Menon. “Pharma companies need a logistics partner that offers an end-to-end and global solution, leveraging the latest technology and constantly innovating to keep up with the pace of change.”
Menon continued: “at GWC, we pride ourselves on staying ahead of the curve. We integrate the latest technologies while continually enhancing our core services, including adherence to regulatory compliance, quality assurance and supply chain visibility. We also pride ourselves on developing teams of staff who are highly trained and always go the extra mile.”
GWC has taken an active role in transporting lifesaving vaccines, in addition to ensuring specimens are collected, transported under the correct temperature, and labelled properly to ensure patients receive effective care.
In Qatar, GWC played a critical role in the country’s COVID-19 vaccination programme, which was implemented very quickly in order to protect the entire population.
GWC's privately-owned pharmaceutical hub a 25,000m² facility with temperature-controlled, refrigerated and frozen storage chambers, was built and equipped to the latest industry specifications.
GWC also supports the ambulance vehicles through a variety of services, including cleaning and maintenance, moving equipment, replenishing consumables and managing essential emergency supplies in order to allow the health services to provide timely care to patients in their critical moments.
The pharmaceutical industry adheres to strict regulatory standards that logistics companies must comply with. Product integrity, temperature control and traceability are all vital to ensure quality assurance throughout the supply chain.
Effective packaging and labelling are another important area for pharmaceutical products.
Medicines need tamper-proof packaging and clear dosage instructions – and these must be legible to both patients and healthcare professionals.
Packaging innovations are a constant part of the picture – and as a key player in the supply chain, GWC must be aware of the very latest technology.
The pandemic also highlighted the need for a patient-centric approach in terms of medication delivery. Transport solutions focussed on delivering medication directly to patients’ homes or healthcare facilities were implemented – in many cases for the first time.
This has helped the rise of online pharmacies and their impact on changing the landscape of pharmaceutical distribution. Now, customers expect to order medication and have it delivered faster than ever before.
Some products also need to be disposed in adherence with environmental regulations. Again, it is vital to be aware of the latest legislation in different territories to ensure the service being offered is the gold standard.
Robust risk management and contingency plans must also be developed to handle unforeseen events, such as natural disasters or supply chain disruptions. For example, it is vital to ensure continuous supply during crises.
The pandemic made a significant contribution to ensuring the pharma industry is ‘shock proof’. This is a vital development that will help keep the global population safe and healthy well into the future.
