Page 9 - LUA September - October 2024

The Partnership for Supply Chain
Management has enhanced logistics
capabilities, and UNIDO advocates for
improving cold chain infrastructure
and regulatory oversight for medicine
distribution. However, further investment
and innovation are needed for a resilient
pharmaceutical logistics system, especially in
regions with limited infrastructure.
Adding to that, Kuehne+Nagel's Miles
Given Africa's sheer said, "Envisioning a future with a larger
geographical spread fleet of temperature-controlled vehicles and
and diversity, the first more GDP and temperature-controlled
fundamental challenge airport facilities, we can see the potential
for significant improvements in healthcare
is dealing with the delivery. While many countries are making
differing approaches strides in modernising their technologies
to customs, and infrastructure, there is still a need for
further development to overcome the current
regulations, various challenges in delivering healthcare products
levels of transport across the continent."
infrastructure and OFFERING SOLUTIONS TO
customs procedures, OVERCOME CHALLENGES
which would affect After gathering input from industry players,
any shipment moving it's clear that Africa's pharma supply chain
faces operational and infrastructural
cross-border. challenges, such as securing permits and
meeting fluctuating demand. However,
ROBIN MILES Sanjeev Gadhia, the Founder and CEO of
KUEHNE+NAGEL
Astral Aviation, stated in an interview at the
Flower and Perishable Logistics Africa 2024
The spokesperson of the Indian neighboring countries are a significant event, "Every crisis is an opportunity." He
multinational pharmaceutical company problem. Consistency in the required emphasised every crisis presents not only
highlighted the challenges of inadequate paperwork is frustrating. Costs are escalating business opportunities but also opportunities
infrastructure in Africa, particularly in due to fuel prices," said the spokesperson of a to contribute to and support society.
its ports. Port congestion and other issues South African pharmaceutical company. In recent efforts to address the crisis in
cause delays, even in the most developed Africa's pharmaceutical logistics the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
ports such as those in South Africa. He infrastructure, particularly in terms of Astral Aviation, a Kenyan cargo airline,
added that the company relies on air freight warehousing and cold-chain logistics, successfully delivered 14 tonnes of
for 20% of its trade to Africa. However, remains relatively underdeveloped, emergency supplies for Mpox response with
the lack of direct flights and the need for although significant progress has been support from the World Health Organisation
trans-shipment complicate air and sea made in the past two decades. Sun Pharma's and Kuehne+Nagel. These supplies, delivered
logistics between Asia and Africa, leading spokesperson emphasised the urgent in September 2024, are expected to serve
to uncertainty and delays in pharmaceutical need to improve port infrastructure and 16,800 people over three months, providing
shipments to the continent. infrastructure in countries, particularly in essential care for healthcare workers battling
"The infrastructure in many parts terms of warehousing and logistics. Mpox. Etihad Cargo has also played a
of Africa is still developing, which can UNIDO acknowledged the role of significant role in improving healthcare
hinder the efficiency and reliability of funded initiatives, such as HIV/AIDS in Africa by delivering over 810 tonnes of
cross-border pharmaceutical deliveries. treatment programs led by organisations critical pharmaceuticals in the past year
Proper planning and investment in like PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan and a half, including support for the UAE
infrastructure are essential to overcome for AIDS Relief) and the Global Fund, in Government's Mpox vaccine distribution
these obstacles and ensure that the strengthening health systems and building across the continent. These efforts highlight
desired service standards are consistently local capacity for pharmaceutical logistics the growing importance of air cargo in
met," added Kemp. in Africa. These programs have contributed ensuring timely and secure medicine
Not only internationally, but also to the improvement of infrastructure for delivery in Africa.
intracontinental shipments are a challenge handling, storing, and distributing medicines The UAE-based airline, Etihad Cargo,
in Africa. "Delays at border crossings to across the continent. employs customer-focused strategies such

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