MHD SUPPLY CHAIN
Image credit: GS1 Australia
COVID-19 has put medical supply chains in the spotlight.
DIGITISING THE HEALTHCARE SUPPLY CHAIN The global healthcare sector is enhancing its technology capabilities to strengthen operations and improve efficiencies across the supply chain. MHD delves deep into the opportunities for digital transformation in Australia.
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hile patient safety is at the top of the agenda for the healthcare industry, there are other drivers that impact the success of the industry, many of which supply chain and logistics play a critical role in. So far, 2020 has been one of the most challenging years on record for the global health care industry and the COVID-19 pandemic has put medical supply chains in the spotlight. We’ve seen global shortages of testing kits, personal protective equipment (PPE), drugs, and critical medical equipment such as ventilators. Before the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded in Australia, the bush fire 30 | MHD JUNE 2020
crisis resulted in a nationwide shortage of face masks earlier this year. This was then exasperated as COVID-19 cases started to emerge in Australia from mid-March, and masks were in critical demand again, as they are used as a primary source of protection against the coronavirus. Public discussion about supply chains and the nation’s exposure to shortages of critical items as a result of complex and global supply chains moved further up the news agenda, as people started to realise that access to adequate healthcare goes beyond doctor, patient relations. Healthcare is a complex industry,
and beyond the crucial role of patient safety, there are a number of different industry challenges. These include the ability to identify and authenticate pharmaceuticals and medical devices, track and trace products, improve efficiencies, have accurate visibility of inventory levels and more. Catherine Koetz, Industry Manager – Healthcare Industry Manager at GS1 says when you compare the healthcare supply chain to the FMCG supply chain, healthcare has some catching up to do. “When we think about one of the most sophisticated supply chain operations in this country it would be the grocery industry. It’s heavily
