The Healthcare Distribution Association (HDA) represents those businesses who supply medicines, medical devices and healthcare services to patients, pharmacies, hospitals, dispensing doctors and the pharmaceutical industry. HDA members operate across the four nations of the United Kingdom, enabling a safe, efficient and high-quality supply chain for the healthcare sector. Our members distribute over 92% of NHS medicines and provide wholesaling services including working capital, stock management and IT systems to their supply chain partners.
Good distribution practice is of prime importance in achieving the safe and secure supply chain that HDA companies play a vital role in. Our members adhere to the highest standards in medicines distribution, setting the benchmarks for our sector.
Our Members
The HDA has three levels of membership: Full, Affiliate, and Associate.
Meet The Team
Martin Sawer, Executive Director
Martin leads all HDA activities. He is responsible for delivering the Association’s strategic aims and for cultivating key stakeholder relationships. Martin also represents the HDA on the Managing Board of the European Healthcare Distribution Association (GIRP).
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Jeremy Main, Independent Chair
Jeremy works closely with the HDA Council and Executive Director to identify future strategic challenges to the sector, whilst addressing immediate issues such as Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic.
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John Preston, Regulatory and Development Director
John is responsible for shaping regulatory policy, coordinating with industry, government and regulatory colleagues to facilitate best practice. John chairs the Supply Chain Resilience, Regulatory Liaison Group and Regulation Strategy Group.
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Will Browne, External Affairs Director
Will oversees the HDA’s political and media activity and the Association's strategic aims. He manages the HDA Council and its Economic Affairs Committee.
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Gabriel Phillips, Policy and Media Manager
Gabriel is responsible for implementing the HDA’s political and media activity and coordinating with members. Gabriel also manages the HDA's RP Committee and Members’ Liaison Group.
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Emma Kassim, Policy and Media Officer
Emma is responsible for the HDA bulletin and supporting the HDA’s political and media activity. Emma also manages the HDA's Net Zero Working Group.
EmailOur History
The Healthcare Distribution Association can directly trace its origins all the way back to the London Wholesale Drug and Chemical Protection Society, established in 1867. This group was largely comprised of multiple chemists, and subsequently broadened into The Drug Club in 1891. This forerunner organisation of both the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and the HDA governed relations with raw drug suppliers and brokers. Indeed, over the following years we can see how both Associations have common and overlapping origins and roots, reflected even today in the HDA’s thriving Associate Membership, many of whom are also ABPI and BGMA members.
