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HDA UK Launched At Parliamentary Reception
Healthcare Distribution Association launched at Parliamentary reception
London: 3rd February 2016: Healthcare Distribution Association UK (HDA UK) was launched in Parliament by Rt Hon Sir Kevin Barron MP, as the British Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers (BAPW) rebrands to better reflect the evolving healthcare supply chain.
The NHS medicines supply chain is going through a tremendous amount of change driven by patient needs, innovation and the need to find even greater efficiencies. As the trade association that represents the backbone of medicines supply in the UK, the British Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers (BAPW) has taken the decision to re-launch as the Healthcare Distribution Association UK (HDA UK).
Ahead of the reception, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Life Sciences, George Freeman MP stated
“I welcome the launch of the HDA and look forward to the Association continuing its vital work promoting safety standards and quality in the healthcare supply chain. This is a great example of British business coming together to deliver value and efficiency for the taxpayer.”
The launch of HDA UK took place at a Parliamentary reception hosted by the Rt Hon Sir Kevin Barron MP, chair of the All Party Pharmacy Group. The event was attended by pharmaceutical industry, NHS, doctors and pharmacy representatives, as well as regulators and government officials.
Martin Sawer, HDA UK Executive Director explained that:
“The new Association wants to engage with the supply chain partners on a broader front to better represent the changing services our members now offer. Our re-launch is also about attracting new more specialised and bespoke health distribution businesses to the Association, as innovative practices and technologies make new services possible for manufacturers and to those who dispense medicines, reflecting the needs and choices of individual patients.”
The Association’s leadership sanctioned the change to better represent the broader range of activity its member companies are now engaged in: no longer only providing vital medicines wholesaling services to pharmacists, hospitals and dispensing doctors, they also provide more varied and comprehensive healthcare services to ensure that patients gain access to the treatment they need in the right place, at the right time, which can include at home.
The Healthcare Distribution Association 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 and bespoke end-to-end supply services, including working capital, stock management and IT platforms for their supply chain partners.
HDA also provides leadership for the sector and ensures that businesses are represented in policy discussions at the highest levels. Member companies provide resilience, certainty and flexibility, supporting NHS patients when there are epidemics and guaranteeing delivery to every region of the United Kingdom, however remote and whatever the conditions.
