With revenues exceeding one trillion dollars, the pharmaceutical industry is booming. With an industry this big, it’s safe to say that every shipment is important. Expensive drugs become a tremendous liability whenever they are transported from Point A to Point B. It’s important to understand the risks associated with shipping pharmaceuticals, and what measures may be taken to help reduce them. Many lives are dependent upon pharmaceutical drugs making it safely to their destination, on time and in their intended state.
Risks Presented When Shipping Pharmaceuticals
- Temperature control
- Breakdown of packaging
- Customs delays
- Choice of packing
- Security
These can lead to costly delays in shipping if the proper precautions are not taken.
Temperature Control The Biggest Concern
When shipping pharmaceuticals, maintaining their required temperature is the biggest challenge. The more a drug changes hands, the more likely it is to suffer from temperature variation. This can be of extra concern with pharmaceuticals, because many shipments need to travel long distances, often globally, before reaching the intended recipient. Additionally, international shipments that are delayed at customs can impact the temperature control of a shipment. Every minute that a shipment is delayed at customs increases the risk of a costly temperature control failure.
Passive Temperature Control Can Make A Difference
A big step toward protecting shipments is by utilizing passive temperature control, which is not as dependent on outside sources and can help ensure that pharmaceutical shipments arrive safely.
Sue Lee with World Courier states, “Controlling the external temperature will always remain the best possible option, whether using temperature-control offerings from the airlines, certified airports, or over-packing the whole consignment with an active unit. However, these methods are not always a viable option due to lack of infrastructure at the destination. Manufacturers need to invest in packing that is independent of the physical abilities available over the duration of the shipment, allowing the shipment temperature to remain stable even when storage conditions differ from expectation.”
Utilizing passive temperature control can help protect shipments while also reducing costs. Passive temperature control accounts for minor temperature fluctuations. More importantly, it does not require transportation in units that are actively controlled. Thermal cargo blankets and thermal pallet covers can be used as methods of passive temperature control. Doing so can help eliminate potential temperature variations when shipments are being handed off from one party to another.
