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HDA UK – Facilitating Digitisation of the UK Medicines Supply Chain.  

The Healthcare Distribution Association (HDA UK), representing wholesale distributors of medicinal products in the UK, believes that in line with the ‘adoption of new technologies’ goals of the Government’s NHS 10 year plan that UK medicines legislation should be brought up to date to allow the adoption of paperless technologies in the distribution of medicines.

HDA members are committed to reducing the impact of their operations on our environment.

Government Policy

The government has recently announced a shake-up of tech and AI usage across NHS and other public services to deliver plan for change, it wants to ensure that technology will be better used to improve public services. Shake up of tech and AI usage across NHS and other public services to deliver plan for change – GOV.UK

HDA Believes that transitioning from paper to electronic delivery documentation would support this policy enabling increased efficiency and productivity.

Currently regulation mandates that a paper delivery note (or invoice) should accompany all medicines whether the customer wants them or not. These invoices are included in all wholesaler deliveries, whether from the wholesaler to another wholesaler, community pharmacy, dispensing doctor or other customer type.

The digital technology is in many cases already in place and the paper document is not used and simply discarded.

The MHRA is seeking views from stakeholders on its proposals to amend GDP Guidance to include the provision to transmit supply documentation from wholesalers electronically- Engagement on facilitating the use of digital packing notes to accompany medicinal products

Benefits of utilising paperless distribution

• Reduce waste and paper production
  • Many millions of paper delivery documents are produced every year, paperless technology would reduce this outdated demand on our natural resources.
• Reduce cost for customers and wholesalers
  • By reducing the reliance on paper documentation customers and adopting new technology customers (particularly in the NHS) would benefit from lower processing and paper transporting costs.
  • Wholesalers would use less paper and reduce their costs
  • The machinery to print delivery documents at scale and speed is very expensive, digitisation would reduce the requirements for such technology.
• Improve efficiency
  • Electronic methodology will allow for faster and more accurate processes in pharmacies, doctors and hospitals.
  • The adoption of paperless Controlled Drug Requisition documents will facilitate this process and avoid the challenges of lost or mislaid paper documents
• Improve accuracy of invoices
  • Electronic documents can be modified up to the point that a delivery leaves the wholesalers service centre- much later than can be achieved using paper documents. This means invoices will be more accurate and avoiding the uncertainty and inefficiency that comes with that comes with handwritten amendments to invoices.

Transition

Of course, as with any change to regulation or new technology a period of transition will be required, the fact that some customers are not yet ready to utilise new technology should not stand in the way of those who want to do so.

Wholesalers are adopting new returns/recalls/queries portals that avoid the need for customers to use paper documentation to perform these tasks.

Tried and tested electronic Proof of Delivery methodologies are already in use across the medicines supply chain.

Who we are

HDA UK represents businesses who store, manage, and distribute medicines, medical devices and healthcare services to community pharmacies, hospitals, and dispensing doctors. Our member companies are responsible for distributing 95% of the NHS’ medicines, enabling a safe, efficient, and high-quality supply chain for patients, the NHS, and the healthcare sector.