The pharmaceutical cold chain logistics market is slowly but surely starting to transition away from cost-effective models to higher governance and quality control-focused supply chains.According to Tracey Glover, director of commercial services at DSV Healthcare, risk mitigation is also coming into sharper focus – and dependability has become critical. “We do not see the appetite for major changes besides this high focus on quality. Most stakeholders agree that what works should remain in place, but they make the point that quality takes first place,” she tells Freight News.Moving cold chain products in Africa, especially high-value pharmaceuticals, can be extremely challenging, she adds. “Due to the vast geography, accessibility to countries on the continent can become challenging. The large reliance on the road networks also poses challenges because of little or no rail networks being available. Then there are also the limited cold-handling facilities at the airports of various countries for inbound freight.”Brenda Pritchard, general manager for healthcare sales at DSV Air & Sea, agrees, saying outside of South Africa, the continent’s ability to execute last-mile cold deliveries is extremely challenged due to insufficient equipment and transport solutions.“A large part of government services is found in rural areas which are inaccessible and exposed to high-security threats.”Security plays a huge role when it comes to moving high-value, temperature-sensitive cargo. In Africa, it is that much more important, and lane risk assessments are constantly being reviewed. “Understanding supply chain complexities as a result of risks is a skill acquired through extensive knowledge sharing and market understanding,” says Pritchard. “The dynamics of security and risk are managed by professional service providers to the industry.”She says despite the challenges and risks, the main African continent hubs are centres of excellence and areas where aid and relief are required. Legislation and import procedures are key aspects of successfully managing pharmaceutical supply chains. “The network and solutions that DSV has managed to implement over the years allow for scalability, and they give us the f lexibility to move into countries where critical pharmaceutical supply chains are required.”Glover says overcoming the challenges is best achieved with a service provider that has expertise and presence on the continent, with a GDP/GWP network of validated and approved service providers who can deliver and mitigate risks.“It is all about delivering solutions that are robust and reliable,” she says.Asked about demand, Glover says a decrease in demand has been seen since April 2020. “We expect the global outlook, with ocean and airline capacity constraints, to play a role in the next two quarters.”
