He reveals that AstraZeneca's highest risk route was found to be the Centurion local route. "This is due to the dispatch of goods taking place in the middle of the morning and the delivery vehicle remaining on the delivery routes during the hottest part of the day - between 11am and 4pm."

Risks are mitigated

While the undertaking provided AstraZeneca with the assurance that product integrity on its routes is not threatened by temperature excursions, damages caused by handling or by security threats, it also revealed high risk routes where improvements could be made. "Where necessary, we have agreed on additional actions to lower the risk on some routes and implement extra controls, says Barton. These include investigating the viability of temperature controlled vehicles versus the use of insulated vehicles, and how these compare to regular closed body vehicles. Consideration is also being given to the use of temperature monitors where the risk is unacceptably high, and to the use of thermal blankets on consignments.

Barton says that as a result of this exercise, client AstraZeneca has gained a thorough understanding of the risks on each distribution stage, and wherever possible, risks have now been mitigated. Where routes were found to be lacking, an alternative was found.

"Protecting patients is an absolute obligation of the pharmaceutical industry, and, as a leader in healthcare supply chain management in Africa, it is critical in Imperial Health Sciences' business, too, he concludes

In an attempt to address the logistics challenges faced by AstraZeneca, the organisation with the assistance of Imperial Health Sciences identified solutions aimed at improving their distribution channels.