RESILIENT SUPPLY CHAIN

and procurement. Over the past three years, he’s seen the healthcare sector supply chain struggle, particularly, with stockpiling medicines.

“It is difficult to prevent stockpiling since it is a natural human response in times of shortage,” says Bardell. “However, when key actors in the medicines supply chain, from the manufacturers themselves through to the end distributors, such as pharmacies, become aware of shortages, then they need to ration access to ensure a fair share of the available stock.”

The COVID-19 lockdown saw some confused consumers stockpile toilet paper – while some countries stockpiled precious PPE equipment.

“Communication and education relative to coming stocks can help reduce anxiety. Stockpiling exacerbates short-term shortages, but then depresses demand as the stockpiled medicines are used up over time,” Bardell explains.

“The single biggest threat to the pharma supply chain is uncertainty. Medicines and vaccines are usually slow and complex to produce and highly regulated. Changing demand patterns and supply-side risks are challenges for any supply chain, but the particular constraints of the medicines supply chain make uncertainty particularly difficult to manage, especially when you consider how vital they are for patients.”