SLCPI commends unified effort to protect medical supply chains from COVID-19 disruptions

Baurs Director – Life Sciences Gehan Seneviratne

Hemas Pharmaceuticals MD Jude Fernando

George Steuart Health Executive Director and SLCPI Vice President Sanjiva Wijesekere

Sunshine Pharmaceuticals CEO Shantha Bandara

The Sri Lanka Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI) lauded all those involved in the pharmaceutical supply chains for their proactive efforts in ensuring the uninterrupted supply of medicine throughout the country in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Despite challenges posed by the coronavirus to global manufacturing and distribution supply chains, the Chamber reaffirmed that patients across the island received a consistent delivery of quality medicine. This was achieved through measures adopted by its members to optimise supply chain efficiency.  

Taking place in the backdrop of ‘National Quality Week’ and World Standard’s Day which fell on 14 October, SLCPI noted that pharma-companies had been quick to respond with critical adjustments to business processes, and complemented by new technological capabilities which resulted in more agile, patient-centric supply chains, all of which was instrumental in providing uninterrupted services despite disruptions in logistics and a rising COVID-19 case count. 

‘Effective communication’ – a key to our success

With air freight services coming to a near standstill earlier this year, many companies had to formulate contingency plans to their supply chain for uninterrupted supply of medicines to the market. This required establishing active communication and clear direction to all staff handling transportation, frontline and back-end operations.

“Given the massive disruptions to air freight operations with the closure of the international airport, we had to rapidly switch to sea freight for products with ambient (+15c to +25c) temperature control by using reefer containers for packing as well as prioritising and blocking airfreights for urgent cold chain temperature control products. This created other issues, as we had to ensure that medicine was stored and transported at an optimal temperature within a stipulated timeframe while complying with all standards and guidelines. This was a real challenge, but we were able to overcome them by leveraging local agents to ensure that all goods were properly handled based on the shipper’s instructions and cleared on time,” Baurs Director of Life Sciences, Gehan Seneviratne stated. 

Commenting on supply chain challenges closer to home, Sunshine Pharmaceuticals CEO Shantha Bandara noted that domestic sales teams also played a pivotal role in ensuring uninterrupted supply of essential medicines. 

“As soon as the lockdown began, our first task was to coordinate with relevant officials to obtain curfew passes so that our teams were able to continue delivery of medicine uninterrupted. All our sales staff who worked from home were in constant contact using messaging and conferencing apps to coordinate with regional customers and private hospitals. This ensured that deliveries were placed for at least one town per week during the lockdown period. Protocols were also set in place for seamless communication between our sales representatives and distribution staff which promoted cross-functional collaboration.” 

SLCPI Vice President and Executive Director of George Steuart Health Sanjiva Wijesekera noted that the support of the Government and relevant stakeholders was also essential for the smooth functioning of the supply chain.

“As soon as the lockdown was announced, the SLCPI membership were in constant contact with the Ministry of Health (MoH), National Medical Regulatory Authority (NMRA), Import Control and Customs to ensure that even from the side of authorities, no critical shipments would face any issues when it comes to clearance of goods.” 

Following discussions with authorities earlier this year, NMRA decided to extend the validity period of certificates of registration and import licenses for Medicines, Medical Devices, Borderline Products and Cosmetic licenses up to 30 June 2021, considering the prevailing situation in the country. The same was also implemented for licenses pertaining to retail pharmacy, wholesale and transport for therapeutic goods.

“Everyone involved in the supply chain of pharma-products adhered to protocols set out by the MoH when transporting goods. We had to make sure employee safety was ensured. As a result, we implemented new protocols from disinfecting every delivery vehicle to minimising the number of staff involved in the process,” Wijesekera added.

Technological advancements – A game-changer

Pivotal to the seamless supply chain process during the pandemic was the adoption of digital tools to create a more agile and flexible logistics model.

“Due to the impact of a country-wide lockdown, our operations embraced agility and flexibility. We integrated our systems with ‘Robotic process Automations’ (RPA) which is a technology that allows anyone to configure computer software, or a ‘robot’ to operate digital systems. For example, all our invoicing data was fed through our sales force system connected to the RPA. This system was also connected to our warehouse and distribution centres to minimise human interaction in supply chain processes,” Sunshine Pharmaceuticals Shantha Bandara explained.

Similarly, Hemas Pharmaceuticals introduced new app-based programmes for its staff and customers, allowing secure, real-time communication during the lockdown.

“Using this app, we were able to connect customers with our showroom outlets while also linking sales staff with pharmacies, ensuring timely delivery of critical products. This in turn, helped the pharmacies to make deliveries without a shortfall or a lapse in the much needed medicines. The system also assisted in collating valuable information for stock management and distribution. We are glad that the agility and speed to bring about this system contributed much to the government attempts at ensuring the availability of key drugs with utmost safety,” said Hemas Pharmaceuticals Managing Director Jude Fernando. 

Throughout this process, the priority was given to patients’ with NCDs’ and essential medicine. Together with optimisation of stock monitoring and distribution, this resulted in a supply chain that was significantly more patient-centric – a feature which SLCPI noted would increasingly become part of the ‘new normal’. 

In that context, SLCPI commended members for ensuring continuous communication with its principals abroad to bring down essential medicines. There was also a spike in online pharmacies introduced by companies to make sure patients can obtain their medication through home delivery during the curfew.

“As soon as the lockdown was announced, we placed insulin orders as soon as possible, to avoid any shortage in our inventory. We also established, an ‘Insulin Helpline’ so that customers were able to obtain information on the nearest pharmacy with insulin stock. We were also in continuous contact with our principals to import other essential medicines like metformin, Atorvastatin and Losartan Potassium,” Bandara added.

SLCPI, further noted that in several instances, the industry took drastic measures in order to adapt to demand for e-pharmaceuticals and home deliveries. “At Baurs’, we transformed our showroom to a fully-fledged pharmacy to place orders online and to deliver essential medicines within a radius of 10-30 kilometres, which was a first for us,” remarked Seneviratne.

Hemas Pharmaceuticals in the meantime worked in close collaboration with the Health Ministry via SLCPI to ensure that pharmacies were designated as essential services and were able to open up for business following all public health and safety regulations within the first four weeks of the lockdown. “This was an unprecedented time, and I’m proud to say that our people went above and beyond to ensure that medicine was always delivered into the hands of those who needed it most. Our own sales staff following all the safety protocols and guidelines did over 3,000 deliveries voluntarily to ensure lifesaving drugs reached the patients and doctors,” Hemas Pharmaceuticals Managing Director, Jude Fernando noted.

Prepared for rise in COVID-19 cases

With COVID-19 cases once again on the rise, the SLCPI reiterated the total commitment of its membership to consolidate on those major improvements, while drawing on lessons learned during the first COVID lockdown to ensure that the industry would continue to ensure uninterrupted supply of medicine in the challenging weeks ahead.   

“The first lockdown was certainly one of the most challenging periods for all Sri Lankans, and our industry too had to contend with novel difficulties. The steps that were taken in that time are quickly becoming part of the ‘new normal’ for all our members, and we wish to clearly emphasise to the public that despite the current situation, there will be no shortage in the availability of essential drugs in Sri Lanka. 

“We will continue to work in collaboration with healthcare providers across the country, and in total alignment with Government officials to ensure that all of Sri Lanka’s medical needs are fulfilled. We also urge the public to continue to abide by all directives laid down by the Government, so that our nation can beat this pandemic, and emerge stronger, and healthier than before,” SLCPI Vice President Sanjiva Wijesekera assured.    

SLCPI serves as the representative of over 60 members who account for more than 80% of the private pharmaceutical industry, spanning manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers. These stakeholders supply Sri Lankan patients with 800 molecules from 364 manufacturers from across the world.

Customer receiving his medicines during lockdown

Pharmaceutical employees coordinating home deliveries 

Employees working during lockdown to ensure the supply of medicines

Inspection to ensure medicines are stored at optimal temperature