Pharmaceutical supply chain resilience in humanitarian crises

Introduction

Hello everyone, good morning, good evening, good afternoon from wherever you're tuning in. Welcome to this webinar on "Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Resilience in Humanitarian Crises." We will be together for the next 90 minutes to discuss this critical topic. My name is Ruben Vas, I'm the Sustainability and Humanitarian Program Manager, and this event links to the humanitarian program of FIP. This webinar is being recorded and live-streamed via YouTube, and the recording will be available on the events website events.fip.org.

Please use the question box for questions related to the content of the presentations, and use the Q&A box for a more focused discussion later. If you have any comments, you can write to webinars@fip.org. If you're not a member of FIP, you can check how to become a member on our website.

Speaker Lineup

Today, we have four speakers:

Wilson
Ronald
AO
Lucas

They will present different perspectives on supply chain aspects of humanitarian crisis, offering a comprehensive overview of this topic.

Humanitarian Program Overview

The humanitarian program for 2024 has several priorities. Number three on the list is humanitarian aspects, emphasizing the importance of preparedness in the face of disasters and crises worldwide. This webinar aims to enhance your understanding of the roles pharmacologists play in supply chain management, strategies and initiatives for supply chain resilience, and the education and training needs pertinent to this field.

Objectives

After this webinar, we aim for you to better understand:

The role of pharmacists in supply chain management during humanitarian crises.
Strategies and initiatives for supply chain management.
Lessons learned for pharmaceutical supply chain resilience.
Education and training needs for pharmacists in this domain.

The FIP development goals closely linked to this topic are Goal 18, which centers on access to medicines, devices, and services during humanitarian needs.

Humanity ARx Initiative

The Humanity ARx is a rebranding of our humanitarian program that focuses more on humanity because we need to be humane in our approach while ensuring access to essential medicines and services globally.

Speaker Presentations

Presentation by Lucas Alvares

Lucas is an Area Manager at the IDA Foundation. He discussed the complexity and sensitivity of the pharmaceutical supply chain, using examples of how crises impact global logistics. Lucas emphasized the importance of preparedness and collaborative efforts between pharmacists and logisticians.

Recorded Presentation by AO Kobayashi

AO from the Japanese Red Cross Medical Center highlighted Japan’s disaster experiences, emphasizing roles in disaster relief and chronic disease medication continuity. She introduced disaster pharmaceutical coordinators and shared her experiences aboard an international cruise ship during a COVID-19 outbreak.

Presentation by Wilson Shanda

Wilson, a certified supply chain leader, discussed the educational and training needs in supply chain resilience. He emphasized the importance of good storage and distribution practices (gsdp), anticipatory action skills, and strategic planning. Wilson outlined how courses and professional development can prepare pharmacists for crises.

Presentation by Ronald Guse

Ronald from the National Associations of Boards of Pharmacy discussed the crucial role pharmacists play in the continuity of care during humanitarian crises. He emphasized the importance of preparedness, having a regulatory and operational framework in place, and continuous review and updating of preparedness plans.

Panel Discussion

Topics included the challenges of donations, including issues with quality, legal concerns, and coordination with health authorities. Another key discussion was on cross-border transportation, custom issues, and waivers, stressing the need for a robust and proactive approach.

Conclusion

To conclude, pharmacists' role in humanitarian crises extends beyond supply chain management to encompass regulatory frameworks, quality assurance, and maintaining continuity in care. The discussions today underscored the importance of preparedness, collaboration, and education. We hope you found this webinar insightful and look forward to your participation in future events.

Thank you.

Keywords

Humanitarian Crises
Pharmaceutical Supply Chain
Preparedness
Good Storage and Distribution Practices
Anticipatory Action
Donations
Cross-Border Transportation
Regulatory Frameworks
Quality Assurance

FAQ

Q1: Why is preparedness emphasized in pharmaceutical supply chain management during humanitarian crises? A1: Preparedness ensures that systems are in place to respond quickly and effectively, maintaining the quality and accessibility of medicines and medical services during crises.

Q2: What are the primary challenges with accepting donations during crises? A2: Donations can pose issues like quality control, sorting operational burdens, and matching the exact needs, which can complicate the humanitarian response.

Q3: How can cross-border transportation issues be managed effectively? A3: Proactive engagement with customs authorities, anticipation of bottlenecks, and having pre-clearance systems in place can expedite the process.

Q4: Can regulatory frameworks adapt in emergencies, such as waiving expiration dates? A4: Yes, legislation can be enacted to temporarily extend expiration dates and allow practices like continuing narcotic prescriptions without prescriber authorization, ensuring continuity of care.

Q5: What skills do pharmacists need for effective supply chain management? A5: Pharmacists need to be skilled in anticipatory action, good storage and distribution practices, regulatory knowledge, and understanding the intricacies of global logistics.