Changes in pharmaceutical logistics, the practical implementation of good practices in the activities of pharmaceutical companies and their impact on the healthcare procurement system were discussed by experts at specialized conferences in the Northern Capital and Moscow. Particular attention was paid to the discussion of a new procedure for licensing pharmaceutical activities, which came into force on September 1 this year.
Harold Vlasov, Managing Director, NC Logistic | Photo: NC Logistic
In October, for the sixth time St. Petersburg became a platform for discussing priority tasks and exchanging experience in the field of public procurement in healthcare at the international level. The forum was traditionally attended by leading experts, representatives of authorities and regulatory bodies.
The state order is one of the most important mechanisms for ensuring the stability of the Russian economy and supporting business, experts noted. The significance of this instrument of state regulation is growing even more in the face of new challenges.
«Despite the unprecedented number of sanctions, restrictive political and economic measures that create a threat of a shortage of goods, as a result, are designed to influence the social well-being of Russians, the supervisory authorities are quite successfully coping with unprecedented challenges,” said Harold Vlasov, Managing Director of NC Logistic. — Roszdravnadzor conducts videoconferencing with pharmaceutical market participants on a weekly basis. This includes pharmacy chains, distributors and logistics operators. As part of the monitoring, not only the current situation with pharmaceutical manufacturers is monitored, but also the shortage of medicines».
Some of the foreign manufacturers have suspended or are suspending the supply of medicines, he stated. There are cases when the shortage of the drug is formed due to delayed production. Monitoring is necessary for a real assessment of the situation, what is the status quo for specific drugs and manufacturers.
«This means that regulators have objective information and control the current process of providing medicines to the population of the Russian Federation», – the expert concluded.
The pharmaceutical business is sensitive not only to global turbulence in the sphere of economics and politics, but also to changes in the legislation of the Russian Federation. From September 1, 2022, legislative acts significant for pharmaceutical logistics came into force. Some aspects of outsourcing in the field of circulation of medicines for medical use were discussed by experts at the 14th All-Russian Conference “PharmMedCirculation 2022”.
“Roszdravnadzor carefully developed the legal framework and prepared for changes,” said Harold Vlasov. “Now services for the storage and processing of medicines and medical devices can already be officially outsourced.”
There were no significant changes in the procurement system for companies that plan to use outsourcing services in the field of circulation of medicines for medical use, he added. But from the point of view of interaction between companies – an outsourcer, a 3PL operator and a client – there was a certain “legalization” of these relations. So what does the innovation give the logistics operator?
According to Vlasov, this is primarily a multiple increase in the responsibility of logistics operators of the “green zone” for the quality of goods and services. “Now the operator’s obligations include: compliance with storage conditions, regular checks of temperature control and monitoring equipment, organization of EDI and strict compliance with GDP standards,” he explained. “Of course, this was all observed before, but now it has acquired a regulatory framework.”
If we talk about the opportunities that outsourcing opens up for customers, then this is, first of all, cost optimization, and secondly, simplification of interaction with a logistics company, the expert noted. There is a need for a service at the current moment – there is a performer. No need to invest in capex. In fact, the company does not invest in the purchase and modernization of fixed assets.
“There have been many significant events in the pharmaceutical market this year that have affected pharmaceutical activities,” he stressed. — The drug market in Russia is growing in terms of money and a little less in terms of packages, which means that supply chains are working. Yes, they have undergone major changes and logisticians are constantly looking for optimal and efficient routes. Both transportation and storage work, goods are processed in warehouses. Over the past two years, analysts have shown graphs showing the dynamics of the growth in shipments of medicines in the state segment both in packages and in rubles, which means that optimistic forecasts and local responsibility will give a new impetus to the development of the industry as a whole.”
