Supply Chain Issues: Difference between revisions
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The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated a global disruption of supply chains and led to significant global supply shortages in various medicines and health-related products. Shortages and struggles for access disproportionately affected vulnerable populations, including those with chronic illnesses, low-income individuals, and marginalised communities. | The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated a global disruption of supply chains and led to significant global supply shortages in various medicines and health-related products. Shortages and struggles for access disproportionately affected vulnerable populations, including those with chronic illnesses, low-income individuals, and marginalised communities. | ||
The situation exacerbates existing global health inequities.<ref>Haldane, V., De Foo, C., Abdalla, S.M. et al. Health systems resilience in managing the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons from 28 countries. Nat Med 27, 964–980 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-021-01381-y</ref> Whilst shortages | The situation exacerbates existing global health inequities.<ref>Haldane, V., De Foo, C., Abdalla, S.M. et al. Health systems resilience in managing the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons from 28 countries. Nat Med 27, 964–980 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-021-01381-y</ref> Whilst supply shortages, uncertain medical stocks and counterfeit medical essentials are global problems, developed countries experience disruptions in supply chains for medications that were previously available, whilst lower income countries face chronic shortages and limited access to essential drugs, and others historically lacked access to certain essential medications. | ||
===Common Supply Chain Challenges during the Pandemic === | |||
Essential medicines and products experienced supply challenges during the Pandemic in connection with lockdowns and transportation issues, manufacturing challenges, and increased demand. | |||
==== Antibiotics ==== | |||
Penicillin and its derivatives. | |||
==== Critical Care and Anaesthesia==== | |||
Medications used in intensive care units (ICUs) for intubated patients and during surgical procedures. | |||
==== Sedatives and Pain Management Medications==== | |||
Opioid and standard non-opioid pain relievers. | |||
==== Ventilator Supplies==== | |||
Components and medications needed for ventilator use. | |||
==== Inhalers==== | |||
Asthma and COPD medications, such as albuterol inhalers. | |||
==== Personal protective equipment (PPE)==== | |||
Masks, N95 respirators and surgical masks crucial for healthcare workers. | |||
====Hand Sanitiser==== | |||
Medical-grade hand sanitisers and alcohol-based hand sanitiser recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for their effectiveness in killing bacteria. The extreme shortage led some distilleries to start production of their own brands of hand sanitiser, and a relaxation in regulation to allow for rapid production and distribution. | |||
===Ongoing Supply Chain Challenges=== | ===Ongoing Supply Chain Challenges=== | ||
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Routine vaccines, such as flu vaccines, were in short supply due to the focus and attention shifting to COVID-19 vaccine production. | Routine vaccines, such as flu vaccines, were in short supply due to the focus and attention shifting to COVID-19 vaccine production. | ||
===Long-term Changes in Medical Supply Chains=== | |||
Different countries responded to the pandemic with varying levels of leadership, governance, and preparedness. Public health measures and government communication also differed significantly. The pandemic is leading to changes in how supplies are produced and distributed based on what was learned from these varied approaches. Regulatory frameworks are adapting to factor in precaution and to allow more flexibility in future crises. | |||
There is also learning from from successful initiatives, such as Singapore’s national stockpile of PPE and medical products to last for up to 6 months, drawing on the lessons learned when responding to the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak in 2003 <ref>Chua, A. Q. et al. Health system resilience in managing the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons from Singapore. BMJ Glob. Health 5, e003317 (2020). https://gh.bmj.com/content/5/9/e003317 </ref> | |||
==Citations== | ==Citations== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
Latest revision as of 22:22, 14 July 2024
Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated a global disruption of supply chains and led to significant global supply shortages in various medicines and health-related products. Shortages and struggles for access disproportionately affected vulnerable populations, including those with chronic illnesses, low-income individuals, and marginalised communities.
The situation exacerbates existing global health inequities.[1] Whilst supply shortages, uncertain medical stocks and counterfeit medical essentials are global problems, developed countries experience disruptions in supply chains for medications that were previously available, whilst lower income countries face chronic shortages and limited access to essential drugs, and others historically lacked access to certain essential medications.
Common Supply Chain Challenges during the Pandemic
Essential medicines and products experienced supply challenges during the Pandemic in connection with lockdowns and transportation issues, manufacturing challenges, and increased demand.
Antibiotics
Penicillin and its derivatives.
Critical Care and Anaesthesia
Medications used in intensive care units (ICUs) for intubated patients and during surgical procedures.
Sedatives and Pain Management Medications
Opioid and standard non-opioid pain relievers.
Ventilator Supplies
Components and medications needed for ventilator use.
Inhalers
Asthma and COPD medications, such as albuterol inhalers.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Masks, N95 respirators and surgical masks crucial for healthcare workers.
Hand Sanitiser
Medical-grade hand sanitisers and alcohol-based hand sanitiser recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for their effectiveness in killing bacteria. The extreme shortage led some distilleries to start production of their own brands of hand sanitiser, and a relaxation in regulation to allow for rapid production and distribution.
Ongoing Supply Chain Challenges
Vulnerabilities in the pharmaceutical supply chain are ongoing. Shortages in raw materials and logistical and manufacturing challenges contribute to ongoing, significant shortages in various drugs and supplies.
Generic sterile injectable medications Shortages in drugs essential in hospital settings for treating severe illnesses and managing critical care situations due to manufacturing issues, quality problems, and increased demand due to respiratory illnesses.
Chronic Disease Medications Essential medications for chronic conditions, including Insulin and diabetes management drugs, drugs used to manage epilepsy, and cardiovascular drugs for chronic heart conditions, including antihypertensives and anticoagulants, face supply challenges, challenging patients' ability to manage their condition.
Antibiotics and Pain Management Drugs Common antibiotics, opioids and non-opioid pain relievers are experiencing shortages due to increased demand and disrupted manufacturing processes.
Oncology Treatment Chemotherapy agents and supportive care medications that manage side effects of chemotherapy, like anti-nausea drugs.
HRT Medications The supply of Hormone Replacement Therapies (HRT), including estrogen and progesterone products, was disrupted affecting individuals relying on these treatments for menopausal symptoms, gender-affirming care, and other hormonal imbalances.
Mental Health Medications Antidepressants and antipsychotics were impacted by supply chain challenges and by increased demand.
Antivirals HIV/AIDS Medications: Antiretroviral drugs saw supply issues. Hepatitis Medications for hepatitis B and C treatments were impacted.
Immunosuppressants Organ transplant medications and autoimmune disease treatments for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
Generic Vaccines Routine vaccines, such as flu vaccines, were in short supply due to the focus and attention shifting to COVID-19 vaccine production.
Long-term Changes in Medical Supply Chains
Different countries responded to the pandemic with varying levels of leadership, governance, and preparedness. Public health measures and government communication also differed significantly. The pandemic is leading to changes in how supplies are produced and distributed based on what was learned from these varied approaches. Regulatory frameworks are adapting to factor in precaution and to allow more flexibility in future crises.
There is also learning from from successful initiatives, such as Singapore’s national stockpile of PPE and medical products to last for up to 6 months, drawing on the lessons learned when responding to the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak in 2003 [2]
Citations
- ↑ Haldane, V., De Foo, C., Abdalla, S.M. et al. Health systems resilience in managing the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons from 28 countries. Nat Med 27, 964–980 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-021-01381-y
- ↑ Chua, A. Q. et al. Health system resilience in managing the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons from Singapore. BMJ Glob. Health 5, e003317 (2020). https://gh.bmj.com/content/5/9/e003317