HIDA PRIME VENDOR
SUPPLY CHAIN • BY MATTHEW J. ROWAN, HIDA PRESIDENT & CEO
Reliable Transportation is Part of Building a More Robust Supply Chain COVID-19 has created a host of complications. Those impacts extend into the
transportation of PPE and other
transportation system where congestion at vital ports, scarcity of containers, and critical
critical medical supplies so they can
labor shortages are preventing the return to the reliable flow of products healthcare pro-
move quickly through ports of entry
viders need. Rather than improving as the pandemic has continued, those challenges have
and into the U.S. distribution system.
grown more significant and are expected to stretch into 2022. 3. Ensure supply chain readiness. Government and industry need to work Transportation problems have become
should be on establishing our abil-
more collaboratively now to better
healthcare problems. Variability in logistics
ity to fulfill healthcare providers’
define our respective roles, expec-
prevents the consistency expected in
initial demand during a healthcare
tations, and connection points to
the supply chain. In addition to driving
emergency while giving critical time
access products in future pandemics.
up costs, it affects the ability of provid-
to ramp up additional manufactur-
The most effective approach is to
ers to offer quality medical care during
ing production capacity. We must
identify and embrace best supply
a public health emergency. The ongoing
anticipate needs by establishing a
chain practices. We must foster and
response to COVID-19 so far has shown
core critical supply list in advance
develop structured communica-
areas where industry and government can
and think beyond a conventional
tions protocols that will help avoid
partner to build a more robust and resilient
approach to stockpiling those
competition for the same critical
healthcare supply chain.
items. By absorbing the first wave
products. We need to ensure provid-
of pandemic demand, we can allow
ers understand the importance of
try Distributors Association (HIDA)
the supply chain the time it needs
partnering with proven, experienced
convened a meeting of board members
to generate and distribute more of
companies they can rely upon, espe-
from HIDA and the HIDA Educational
what providers need.
cially in an emergency situation.
Earlier this year, the Health Indus-
Foundation to share insights on supply chain challenges and solutions developed
2. Establish a national sourcing strat-
This is a broad overview of the
during the COVID-19 response. Their
egy. We must create the capacity to
detailed recommendations HIDA’s
goal was to develop policy recommenda-
quickly ramp up medical supply pro-
Thought Leaders developed to help guide
tions for a key issue: improving readiness
duction and an important element in
public-private planning to better prepare
and response to future pandemics.
that approach is diversifying global
the healthcare supply chain for future
sourcing. COVID-19 has revealed
pandemics. Providers can learn more
The nucleus of the proposals was the
the need to diversify the sources
about how they would benefit from these
need for strong public-private partner-
of supply. Key to diversification is
proposals and how they can contribute
ships to leverage each other’s resources
manufacturing of critical medi-
to their implementation by checking
and strengths. Based on that core prin-
cal supplies here in the U.S. – and
out HIDA’s “Building A More Robust
ciple, HIDA developed and released three
enable surge manufacturing when
Supply Chain: Industry Recommendations
strategic recommendations:.
emergency needs arise. Those are
For A Strong Public-Private Pandemic
long-term solutions. In the short
Infrastructure,” at HIDA.org/
term, we need to prioritize the
UnderstandingHealthcareDistribution.
1. Build a bigger cushion. A vital focus on government-industry coordination
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October 2021 | The Journal of Healthcare Contracting
