Integrity, professionalism and transparency are critical tenets for pharmaceutical delivery providers.
The critical importance of Pharma companies partnering with a truly compliant logistics service provider such as Polar Speed was never more brought into focus than during the events of December 2010.
As we all know the deadly combination of prolonged Arctic weather conditions coupled with the pre-Christmas seasonal home shopping boom, brought many of the UK’s leading parcel carriers almost to a grinding halt!
According to Simon Veale of Global Freight Solutions, speaking on the BBC, “as many as 2 million parcels failed to reach their destinations on time”. Quite apart from the lateness of delivery, there also remains a serious concern within the industry that thousands of pharmaceutical parcels despatched via parcel carrier channels failed to meet GDP standards as set out by the MHRA in terms of best distribution practice.
Polar Speed, although faced with the same challenges as our parcel carrier competitor’s, were able to maintain absolute consistency of storage and transport temperatures across our entire supply chain for both 2°C-8°C and 15°C-25°C products. Temperature integrity was not compromised in any way whatsoever, and our ability to electronically track and trace temperatures via our Masternaut satellite navigation units, installed in every Polar Speed vehicle, was a key differentiator between Polar Speed and its’ parcel carrier rivals.
In many ways this was a watershed moment for the industry and it is no coincidence that we are now seeing a stimulus of interest from a number of clients looking to reposition their Pharma distribution requirements with Polar Speed. This includes leading clients in areas such as Diagnostics as well as the critical Home Delivery market, including distribution of specialist medicines for named patients.
There is no doubt that winter 2010 was a wakeup call for the industry and there is undoubtedly an air of apprehension as we run into the forthcoming winter season. Many leading Pharma companies are actively reviewing contingency plans in the light of a potential repeat scenario this winter.
Whilst it is recognised that the parcel market has certain distinct economic advantages due to critical mass of parcels handled, it is by no means the total answer when it comes to deciding the best home for placing ones business. The acid test in truth is whether or not the logistics provider can accurately track storage and transit temperatures of their products. The parcel carrier market, unlike dedicated healthcare platforms such as Polar Speed, is non-regulated and this does elevate the risk factor in delivering products across the Healthcare sector in non-compliant temperature conditions, be that 2°C-8°C or 15°C-25°C for temperate products.
Delivery to patients at home is a fast expanding market for Polar Speed, and with pressures on NHS spending budgets over the next 5 years then the market is set to expand at pace during this period. Polar Speed currently delivers treatments to over 7,500 patients on behalf of over 60 leading NHS Trusts.
Once again Polar Speed’s approach in servicing this market is totally different to the traditional B2C sector. Drivers are handpicked to undergo specialist training in helping deliver a very structured and measured doorstep delivery service to all its’ patients. Key to this is building patient confidence and trust, and Polar Speed achieves this by assigning the same driver for its’ regular daily delivery service. The service also includes delivery and installation of medical fridges, rotating stock and removal of clinical waste, and this is of significant benefit to patients with more acute medical conditions.
Polar Speed delivers over 750,000 consignments per annum across the Healthcare sector, with 98% of post codes being serviced on a next day basis. We are a major supplier of Flu vaccines to the UK market and 2011 will see us deliver circa 8 million doses within the UK.
Since the introduction of our dual temperature service offering 3 years ago, we have seen a number of clients buy into the “One Stop” consolidated delivery service which produces operating economies as well as streamlining communications for clients’ customer service personnel.
The “Value Chain” is a model that many Pharma companies are seeking to secure, in tendering their business in order to identify their chosen logistics service provider, and Polar Speed’s delivery system is geared to optimise such solutions.