10 Ways Pharma Distribution Services Are Changing Pharma Industry

 

The pharmaceutical industry has changed significantly over the past decade, and one of the biggest changes has been in the distribution of medicines to hospitals and clinics.

In order to compete with other industries and ensure that they’re providing the most efficient service to their customers, pharmaceutical companies are moving towards pharma distribution services that focus on customer satisfaction, cost savings, and compliance with regulatory guidelines. 

 

Here are ten ways that these pharma distribution services are changing pharma as we know it.

1) Pharma distribution outsourcing

The first thing to know about how pharma distribution services are changing is that outsourcing—or even full-service facilities in other countries—is becoming more common.

Pharma companies are beginning to appreciate that, not only can foreign companies make drugs more cheaply, but there’s an added bonus for quality control as well.

Some medical facilities have earned reputations for being notoriously sterile and it’s not surprising why; they’re handling high volumes of supplies from countless patients every day so there can be a buildup of germs and grime on anything they use over time.

Outsourcing your distribution to a country with cleaner standards will ensure better end results—including improved patient outcomes.

2) Pharma distribution logistics

Improving your global pharma distribution logistics is crucial for growth. From receiving an order to delivering it to your customers, you have a series of internal and external checks that ensure quality control at every step in the supply chain.

You also have a robust set of information-sharing protocols that allow you to keep track of all data related to each product—from its destination, weight, and status, to its condition upon arrival.

You use these tools and protocols not only to create transparency throughout your company but also to support rapid decision making, giving users full visibility into potential concerns before they’re problems.

3) Pharma distributors provide drug supply chain management

Pharmaceutical distributors are middlemen in an industry with a very long supply chain.

By helping pharmaceutical companies make sure their products reach hospitals, pharmacies and doctors' offices, they do important work. Although they are primarily known for distributing medications to retail stores and consumers, their role has expanded in recent years.

Because of increased regulations surrounding where pharmaceutically made drugs can be stored and distributed, pharma distribution services are helping companies meet compliance standards.

4) Pharma distributors help monitor inventory

They can also help monitor inventory levels across distribution centers, so one product isn’t over- or under-stocked at any given time.

In turn, their software can help identify areas of improvement and bottlenecks that could otherwise be missed by health systems and hospitals.

All of these improvements to pharma distribution services make it easier for pharmacy directors and decision makers to ensure they’re delivering on patient care expectations.

5) Pharma distributors support multiple customers

According to Statista, in 2015 alone, there were 31.8 billion prescriptions written in the U.S. with 10 of those prescriptions going through a specialty pharmacy (that is a lot of pills).

This means that along with writing and filling your prescription, pharmacists have many other patients to consider – from tracking insurance coverage to contacting doctors for refill approvals.

This process has become increasingly complicated over time and requires more time than ever before; however, pharmacists still must fill each prescription correctly and within an acceptable amount of time while maintaining safety standards as well as keeping regulatory agencies happy.

6) Pharma distribution software improves efficiency

No one understands that better than pharmacists, who are integral to drug distribution. Many dispensing pharmacists work in tandem with distributors to ensure that pharmaceuticals get from manufacturers to pharmacies and clinics safely and quickly.

This can be a time-consuming process, especially as pharmacies adopt more complex inventory management systems. Enter specialty pharma distribution software, which streamlines everything from inventory management to packaging instructions.

Specialty pharma distributors are taking advantage of software designed specifically for their industry—so if you’re trying to improve efficiency and make your job easier, too, it might be time for a little tech tune-up.

7) Technology helps pharmacies manage inventory

Pharmacies are moving away from storing medications and other medical supplies in a warehouse. Instead, they’re buying inventory in smaller quantities and replenishing it frequently based on patients’ prescriptions.

Automation technology helps them manage storage, monitoring and delivery of these items more efficiently. This approach has helped reduce waste while lowering costs for patients, who don’t have to pay for excessive storage space or costly excess inventory.

Some pharmacies have also added dispensing centers that offer patients same-day delivery at no extra charge. A growing number of health care providers and pharmacies are offering online portals through which customers can fill their prescriptions online.

In addition to making, it easy for patients to get their medication, online portals let physicians monitor prescription drug regimens remotely by tracking refills and renewals, and determining if there might be an issue with compliance or adherence—which could save lives.

Some services also offer presort billing so consumers can schedule payments ahead of time so they know exactly how much they need to pay without having to log in every month.

8) Pharmacy automation software helps improve patient care

In addition to improving efficiency, pharmacist software also allows pharmacies to provide services beyond prescription filling. These pharmacy automation programs can make prescriptions and refill requests available anywhere a customer has internet access.

When a prescription is due, patients receive an alert on their smart phone or email. They can then choose whether to pick up their medication at the store or have it delivered directly to them—and if they choose delivery, they’ll get an estimate of when their package will arrive.

This added convenience means that pharmacists are now able to provide even more patient care, not just with dispensing but with education and health coaching as well.

9) Drug logistics services improve medication quality control

As global supply chains become increasingly complex, many pharma distributors are stepping in to fill a vital niche. With their detailed knowledge of inventory management and logistics, these companies are helping pharmaceutical firms ensure that patients around the world receive safe, effective medication.

Working directly with manufacturers, wholesalers and pharmacies, these service providers ensure proper packaging and transportation. They also assist in serialization—the process of embedding an ID number on each drug package to help trace its journey from factory to patient.

As more drugs are shipped across borders, serialization is expected to grow in importance. These changes not only protect against illegitimate copies of medications—they also give regulators greater oversight over prescription drugs as they travel through supply chains around the world.

10) Drug logistics increases access to care

Today’s pharmaceutical distribution landscape is very different from what it was just five years ago. The proliferation of specialty pharmacies, direct-to-consumer sales and shift to hospital outpatient care has given rise to several new distribution channels.

In fact, retail pharmacy distribution has been on a downward trend since 2010, while pharmacist-directed dispensing and healthcare system/wholesale distribution are on an upward trajectory.

That brings us to a point worth emphasizing: Although there are many emerging drug logistics channels today, their growth is limited by market demand.

One way for companies to grow market share for their products is by investing in new technologies that not only help increase product access and affordability but also improve patient outcomes.

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