HDA Statement regarding the availability of Public Health England-supplied PPE for community pharmacy
COVID-19 Update – 29 April 2020
HDA Statement regarding the availability of Public Health England-supplied PPE for community pharmacy
The Healthcare Distribution Association would like the community pharmacy sector to be aware that the stocks of Public Health England (PHE) PPE masks recently supplied by the Association’s member wholesalers to pharmacies, for staff use only, have now almost completely run out. HDA member companies are awaiting a new sale event to be announced by Public Health England.
In the meantime, the Department of Health & Social Care has told HDA:
“We have extended our PPE supply route to Local Resilience Forums (LRFs) to help distribute stock to organisations outside of the NHS supply chain who have the highest need clinically and other services that would have a high priority need for PPE including Pharmacists.
Over 7 million more items of PPE have been delivered over the last week to the LRFs identified as being in the highest need of resupply. We will continue to make drops of PPE for distribution by the LRFs to meet some priority need until the new e-commerce solution is operational.
We will continue to make releases to wholesalers when stocks permit.
If providers are unable to access PPE through these routes and have an urgent need, they should contact the National Supply Disruption Response (NSDR) helpline to request emergency support. The 24/7 freephone number is 0800 915 9964.”
This statement about PHE-supplied PPE masks excludes the fact that individual HDA wholesalers may be able to obtain some supplies of appropriately certified PPE masks from their own sources.
Dear HDA Members,
On behalf of the Healthcare Distribution Association, we would like to thank all our members for your continuing dedicated efforts and hard work through these challenging and unprecedented times. Now more than ever, your work is crucial to the health of millions of UK citizens up and down the country, with hospitals, community pharmacies and dispensing doctors relying on wholesalers to provide vital medicines. This critical role has been recognised across Government, and by others in the medicines supply chain. You all have been classified as Key Workers in our joint fight against Covid-19; for this we say ‘Thank You’.
The safety of wholesaling and distribution colleagues is one of our top priorities. With this aim, the HDA is working closely with the UK Government and our members, to ensure that distribution staff’s day-to-day work is as safe and secure as possible. As always, our mission remains to maintain the efficiency of our supply chain and get medicines to those who need it the most at the right time.
The HDA is very proud of the work you are doing to support the country’s healthcare system at such a critical time. We hope our members, and all respective families are keeping well.
Once again, on behalf of all at the Healthcare Distribution Association, we thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Martin Sawer, Executive Director and Jeremy Main, Chair
The Healthcare Distribution Association (HDA) has been working closely with its members and supply chain partners during the COVID-19 pandemic to help ensure patients continue to receive the right medicine, in the right place, at the right time.
The demand for medicines has increased dramatically, both from primary and secondary care, leading to a substantial uplift in the volumes of medicines flowing through the supply chain. Such increased volumes would place strains on healthcare distributors in more normal circumstances but has done so to an even greater extent in recent weeks, as some wholesaling staff have been self-isolating.
As an Association, we have been working with partners such as the Department for Health and Social Care; NHS England; NHS Improvement; the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency; and pharmacy and pharmaceutical manufacturing trade bodies to identify and mitigate possible impediments to the safe and secure distribution of increased volumes of medicines.
Examples of such measures include:
- Exceptional Good Distribution Practice (GDP) flexibilities from the MHRA that minimise business burden during the pandemic.
- The recognition by Government of wholesaling staff as key workers; providing greater access to schooling and eventually COVID-19 antigen and antibody testing.
- Formal government recognition of the crucial role being played by healthcare distributors in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.
- An NHS England Standard Operating Procedure for out of hours and weekend access to emergency orders from wholesalers for NHS Trusts.
The priority of the HDA remains the safe and secure distribution of medicines to primary and secondary care, which in itself is predicated on the safety of wholesaling staff. The Association will continue to work with all its supply chain partners during and after the COVID-19 pandemic to achieve these twin aims.
Dear HDA members,
Please see below letter from Steve Oldfield, Chief Commerical Officer at DHSC, thanking pharmaceutical wholesalers for the crucial role they play in the supply chain, which is more important now than ever.
25th March 2020
Pharmaceutical wholesalers critical to the COVID-19 response
Pharmaceutical wholesalers play a crucial role in our supply chain. We rely on your staff to enable hospitals and community pharmacies to continue to treat patients and supply them with the medicines and other supplies they need. This is more important than ever under the current circumstances.
You will have heard the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care yesterday saying that “key workers, for example in the NHS, social care, pharmacists, medicine supply chain, should go to work unless they are self-isolating due to symptoms.”. There should be no doubt that anyone working for a pharmaceutical wholesaler is a key worker. We need key workers including those working in your company to come into work to do the important job they do to support the NHS and patients across the country.
I would be grateful if you could share this message with your staff.
Yours sincerely,
Steve Oldfield, Chief Commercial Officer
Raising Awareness and Building Understanding: HDA Launches Infographic to Explain Medicine Availability
- Association launches infographic to dispel drug scarcities ambiguity
- HDA pledges to lead debate and discussion on availability issues
London, 01 October 2019 – The Healthcare Distribution Association (HDA) has launched an infographic which identifies the factors that can impact medicine availability, as well as the measures that HDA member distributors undertake daily to help mitigate the risks of patients not receiving their medicines.
To support the project, the HDA commissioned a study of the views of supply chain stakeholders, as part of the Association’s mission to build awareness, understanding and appreciation of the vital importance of the healthcare distribution sector. The research identified transparency surrounding the availability of medicines as a key concern. As a result, the Association has pledged to lead the debate and discussion of the topic, focusing on explaining the factors that can impact medicine availability. The infographic sits at the heart of this work, and HDA is hoping this will begin to enable improved understandings and communications between all the different professionals working hard to get medicines to patients.
Commenting on the launch, the HDA’s Executive Director, Martin Sawer noted:
The infographic demonstrates that there are a number of factors that can influence the availability of medicines between manufacture and delivery to their dispensing point, many of which are actually outside the control of distributors. That said, the HDA and its members work closely with supply chain partners to try to mitigate supply challenges and reduce the number of drug availability incidents.
We are committed to tackling drug shortage issues as best we can, and I hope that the availability infographic dispels some of the ambiguity surrounding drugs scarcities and what causes them, as well as highlights the initiatives our member companies take in their day-to-day operations in order to mitigate supply shortages. It is also worth noting that all our HDA members have signed up to the Association’s Gold Standard of Good Distribution Practice that prioritises the UK patient and their needs within the supply chain.
The infographic highlights the many factors which can have an impact on the availability of drugs, emphasising how they can occur at different points in the supply chain. Some of those stressed in the infographic include:
- Raw material and quality problems at the manufacturing level (for API’s)
- Batch release failure
- Export/import logistics issues
- Actions by the regulator
- Manufacturer return on investment
- Competitor product out of stock
- Medicine reclassification
- Changes in patient demographics affecting demand
- Diversion of stock
As well as emphasising those factors which can have an impact on the availability of drugs, the infographic also highlights the actions distributors take to try to mitigate supply issues. Some of the measures incorporated in distributors’ standard operating procedures include:
- Twice-a-day delivery for those products that are in high demand
- The sourcing of medicines from more than one supplier
- Stock investment based on forecasting
- Stock management, including anticipation of seasonal stock demand
- Cascading where medically appropriate
- Script-validation (a practice which requires a significant amount of extra resources)
- The holding of buffer stocks
- Generous returns regimes
- Fast-tracking through the distribution system
- 24/7 out-of-hours procedures
The medicines distribution sector in the UK is the backbone of a high value and secure supply chain that enables patients to get the right treatment, in the right place at the right time. The aggregation and storage of medicines to high regulatory standards enable certainty and security of supply, which minimise potential stock shortages and allows clinicians to source the broadest range of treatments, supplied to even the most remote parts of the four countries of the United Kingdom in an affordable and efficient manner.
See the infographic in full, including a key explaining each stage of the supply, here.
About the Healthcare Distribution Association
The Healthcare Distribution Association (HDA UK) represents those businesses who supply medicines, medical devices and healthcare services for patients, pharmacies, hospitals, doctors and the pharmaceutical industry. HDA UK members operate across the 4 nations of the United Kingdom enabling a safe, efficient and high-quality supply chain for the healthcare sector. They are responsible for distributing over 92% of NHS medicines and provide wholesaling services including working capital, stock management and IT systems to their supply chain partners. The HDA and its members are at the forefront of the constantly evolving healthcare supply chain, which is seeing innovative practices and technologies make new services possible for manufacturers and to those who dispense medicines, reflecting the needs and choices of individual patients.
Contact Information
Will Browne – wbrowne@hdauk.co.uk
Hannah Milne – hmilne@hdauk.co.uk
Laure Aboulin – laboulin@hdauk.co.uk
0207 031 0590
View the full size infographic
HDA welcomes Minister of Health Stephen Hammond on visit to member service centre
London, 12th July 2019. On Thursday 11 July, Stephen Hammond, Minister for Health and Social Care and MP for Wimbledon, saw for himself how Healthcare Distribution Association (HDA) member Alliance Healthcare’s Chessington Service Centre delivers vital medicines to pharmacies and hospitals across the south and south-east of England including in his own constituency.
The visit was hosted by Martin Sawer, HDA Executive Director, and both he and the Minister were greeted by Alliance Healthcare UK Managing Director, Julian Mount before being given a tour of the service centre. They witnessed first-hand the semi-automated warehouse in full swing with orders being picked and packed ready for afternoon delivery. The Minister also observed how medicines are received and stored safely and securely in accordance with strict regulatory guidance, including a demonstration of procedures required under the recently introduced Falsified Medicines Directive.
Stephen Hammond, Minister of State for Health reflected:
“It was a fascinating experience to see how the operations worked. It is no mean feat for customers to receive two deliveries a day, five days a week and one on Saturday. It is apparent to me that healthcare distributors are pivotal in ensuring that all GP surgeries, pharmacies and hospitals are kept fully stocked with the medicines they need to keep their patients healthy.”
Martin Sawer, Executive Director of the HDA noted:
“It was a pleasure to welcome the Minister following his key note address at the recent HDA Annual Conference where he thanked the distribution sector for the vital role it plays in ensuring the safe and consistent supply of healthcare products and medicines to patients across the UK. It is particularly reassuring the Minister continues to recognise the important role our members have played in the complex preparations for a no-deal Brexit. May I also express my thanks to Alliance Healthcare for kindly hosting the visit.”
— ENDS —
About the Healthcare Distribution Association
The Healthcare Distribution Association (HDA UK) represents those businesses who supply medicines, medical devices and healthcare services for patients, pharmacies, hospitals, doctors and the pharmaceutical industry. HDA UK members operate across the 4 nations of the United Kingdom enabling a safe, efficient and high-quality supply chain for the healthcare sector. They are responsible for distributing over 92% of NHS medicines and provide wholesaling services including working capital, stock management and IT systems to their supply chain partners. The HDA and its members are at the forefront of the constantly evolving healthcare supply chain, which is seeing innovative practices and technologies make new services possible for manufacturers and to those who dispense medicines, reflecting the needs and choices of individual patients.
Contact Information
Will Browne – wbrowne@hdauk.co.uk
Hannah Milne – hmilne@hdauk.co.uk
0207 031 0590
The HDA’s Executive Director, Martin Sawer, appeared before the EU Exit Select Committee as part of the Committee’s assessment of the readiness of supply chains to cope in the event of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit.
Commenting on the risks associated with ‘no-deal,’ Martin Sawer said that the industry ‘would expect medicine shortages and a lot of price rises for the NHS pretty quickly, and some shortages in some constituencies for sure.’ He also warned that counterfeit and substandard drugs could find their way into pharmacies if the UK was forcibly detached from the Falsified Medicines Directive.
Watch the full discussion on the impact of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit on medicine and chemical industries here.
Critical role of HDA members heralded by Minister at the Associations’ Annual Conference
- Minister of State thanks distributors for ensuring a resilient supply chain
- Delegates enjoy speakers from across the supply chain
- Disruptive potential of blockchain explained
London, 30 May 2019 – Stephen Hammond MP, Minister of State at the Department of Health and Social Care was the keynote speaker at the HDA’s Annual Conference which took place in London last week. Speaking ahead of a day’s worth of speeches by leading executives from across the medicines supply chain, the Minister noted all the ways that HDA member businesses are key to ensuring patients receive the right medicine, in the right place, at the right time, and how collaboration between the HDA and Government was instrumental in the safe and efficient operation of medicines supply. Areas of cooperation highlighted included:
- Brexit preparedness – including stockpiling, monitoring changes in purchasing patterns and logistical questions.
- Managing availability issues such as mitigating risks before they impact supply.
- Providing value for money for the NHS through a cost-effective and efficient distribution system.
- The adoption of next generation technologies to improve the quality of service, not only for patients, but customers up and down the supply chain.
Following the Conference, HDA Executive Director, Martin Sawer noted:
The Minister’s vote of confidence in the HDA and its members is very welcome at a time the medicines supply chain is facing challenges from all angles. It is easy to forget the hard work that medicines distributors put in day-in day-out in supporting the NHS; embracing innovation; facing ongoing disruption from new entrants to the market; and implementing constant regulatory updates. Government recognition of such efforts is very reassuring for the sector.
Other topics covered at the Conference included the potential for blockchain to disrupt the current medicines supply chain, revolutionising how products are tracked; data is collected; and safety ensured. Raja Sharif, CEO of FarmaTrust introduced delegates to the transformative technology, that, although often heralded in other sectors such as finance, has not yet been associated with the potential to change the current medicine distribution model.
The HDA has supported International Health Partners (IHP), a charity that distributes medicines to developing countries and during disaster relief operations, for over 12 years. This year, the Conference welcomed IHP’s CEO, Adele Paterson, who gave an update on the charity’s life saving work, much of which is enabled by actions undertaken by HDA members in supplying the much-needed medicines.
Delegates also learnt of the most pressing issues facing the branded manufacturing sector, with the Chief Executive of the ABPI, Mike Thompson, noting that the pharmaceutical industry is well ahead of other comparable sectors in a variety of areas. Including Brexit preparedness; setting a future-looking strategy for growth; and collaborating with partners to deliver improved patient outcomes. He concluded by noting that his members’ cooperation with medicines distributors was at the greatest he had ever known.
From a pharmacy point of view, delegates heard from a range of speakers, covering off the current status and future hopes for community and hospital pharmacy alike. Deputy Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, Dr Bruce Warner, called for community pharmacy to fully engage in the fledgling Primary Care Networks and consider greater pan-pharmacy collaboration to smooth transfers of care between providers.
Equally, a panel discussion on the future of pharmacy called for greater cooperation, but also a total rethink on the role of the pharmacist, with a focus on holistic care provision. Hemant Patel of the English Pharmacy Board, Des Hennelly of IQVIA and Rob Darracott of P3 Pharmacy Magazine debated how the traditional pharmacy model had to be revolutionised for the sector to survive in the current NHS environment.
Recognising the need for pharmacy to evolve its role in the NHS, the Conference was closed by Simon Dukes, CEO of the PSNC, who updated attendees on his hopes for the current contract negotiations with the Government. With the need to focus on services a clear priority.
Martin Sawer concluded:
As the HDA looks to help define the future of the ever-evolving healthcare distribution sector, it is crucial that our members are kept up to date of the latest developments. Whether that is how blockchain could revolutionise the supply chain, or how Government officials expect medicine distribution to change, our Annual Conference is designed to inform and entertain in equal measures.
About the Healthcare Distribution Association
The Healthcare Distribution Association (HDA UK) represents those businesses who supply medicines, medical devices and healthcare services for patients, pharmacies, hospitals, doctors and the pharmaceutical industry. HDA UK members operate across the 4 nations of the United Kingdom enabling a safe, efficient and high-quality supply chain for the healthcare sector. They are responsible for distributing over 92% of NHS medicines and provide wholesaling services including working capital, stock management and IT systems to their supply chain partners. The HDA and its members are at the forefront of the constantly evolving healthcare supply chain, which is seeing innovative practices and technologies make new services possible for manufacturers and to those who dispense medicines, reflecting the needs and choices of individual patients.
Contact Information
Will Browne – wbrowne@hdauk.co.uk
Hannah Milne – hmilne@hdauk.co.uk
0207 031 0590
The latest FMD Scanning and Error Message Guidance can be found on the FMD Working Group for Community Pharmacy’s Website:
https://fmdsource.co.uk/resources/eu-fmd-scanning-and-error-messages/
Please follow this link to access the European Commission Directorate-General’s ‘Safety Features for Medicinal Products for Human Use’ document.
