Patient well-being should be at the heart of all decisions made within the life sciences. Despite this, other factors often compete for decision-makers’ attention and ultimately distract from the focus on patients. While much of the supply chain may seem far removed from patients, it can have a significant impact on medicine delivery and patient well-being.
A patient-centric supply chain is one which puts the needs of the patient first. To support the rise of more bespoke treatments and fully personalised medicines, patient-centric supply chains must be developed. This presents new challenges to logistics specialists as they endeavour to ensure patients receive the right care, at the right time, and in the right condition.
But a patient centric approach should not just focus on medicine delivery, it needs to encompass the entire process from discovery, to development, to clinical trials and manufacturing. As a truly global industry, materials need to cross borders and align with different regulations throughout their journey, increasing demands on the supply chain. Logistics experts connect all stages and locations of this complex network and play a major role in delivering a renewed patient focus.
Understanding Traditional Healthcare Supply Chains
Traditionally, the pharmaceutical industry has taken a broadbrush approach to medicines, developing treatments designed to treat huge numbers of people in the same way. However, as our understanding of genetics has grown, so has our appreciation for the benefits of treatments that are tailored to treat individuals.
Traditional supply chains worked in a similar way. With millions of patients to treat all over the world, the main drivers were cost, efficiency and delivering the correct stock levels. The move to a more personalised model raises challenges around inefficiencies, driven by a lack of flexibility, poor communication between stakeholders, and the failure to anticipate patient specific needs. This can ultimately negatively impact patient care with delays in treatment, decreased patient satisfaction and potential harm. A patient-centric approach to logistics shifts the focus to personalisation, outcomes, and ultimately the patient experience.
