Risks in Cold Chain Operations in Healthcare Logistics and Applicable Technological Solutions

Abstract

Millions of tons of temperature-sensitive products are handled by leveraging the cold chain logistics from the point of production to the point of consumption. Cold chain, an important sub-branch of logistics, is a field which allows for the maintenance of the right quality throughout the supply chain and entails special expertise and precision for its management. The operational process becomes increasingly important in delivering products to consumers without any break in the cold chain. The pharmaceutical industry, which places human health at the forefront, includes specific products that require the cold chain logistics process, and entails special equipment and skilled staff to maintain the quality and effectiveness of such products without any break in the logistics process. Considering from the manufacturer's perspective, a potential break in the chain means loss of revenue and reputation, in other words, customer loss. The study is intended to determine the major risks that may arise in all processes related to drugs (insulins, vaccines, etc.) from the raw material to the consumer within the cold chain management, and to suggest technological and practical solutions to mitigate any potential risks and improve the existing conditions. To provide an understanding of storage conditions, particularly of solutions both at retail and customer levels, a survey was conducted with pharmacists and solution suggestions were presented with the descriptive findings assessed.

Keywords

• Logistics Management
• Cold Chain Logistics
• Solution Technologies
• Supply Chain Management
• Pharmaceutical Industry

Risks in Cold Chain Operations in Healthcare Logistics and Applicable Technological Solutions

Öz

Millions of tons of temperature-sensitive products are handled by leveraging the cold chain logistics
from the point of production to the point of consumption. Cold chain, an important sub-branch of logistics, is a
field which allows for the maintenance of the right quality throughout the supply chain and entails special
expertise and precision for its management. The operational process becomes increasingly important in
delivering products to consumers without any break in the cold chain. The pharmaceutical industry, which places
human health at the forefront, includes specific products that require the cold chain logistics process, and entails
special equipment and skilled staff to maintain the quality and effectiveness of such products without any break
in the logistics process. Considering from the manufacturer's perspective, a potential break in the chain means
loss of revenue and reputation, in other words, customer loss. The study is intended to determine the major risks
that may arise in all processes related to drugs (insulins, vaccines, etc.) from the raw material to the consumer
within the cold chain management, and to suggest technological and practical solutions to mitigate any potential
risks and improve the existing conditions. To provide an understanding of storage conditions, particularly of
solutions both at retail and customer levels, a survey was conducted with pharmacists and solution suggestions
were presented with the descriptive findings assessed.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Logistics Management
• Cold Chain Logistics
• Solution Technologies
• Supply Chain Management
• Pharmaceutical Industry

References

1. Aksoy, T. (2012). Tokat İl Merkezindeki Eczanelerde Soğuk Zincir Uygulamalarının İncelenmesi. Gaziosmanpaşa Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Tokat.
2. Bhatnagar, A. Gupta, V. Tandon, P. Saksena, T. Ranjan, A. Gandhi, P. Shilpa, C. G. & Kapoor, A. (2018). Last mile delivery of cold chain medicines–challenges and recommendations. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biological Research, 6(01), 34-41.
3. Balachandran, K. (2019). Cold Chain And İnsulin: Should We Follow The Polio Vaccine Example? Indian Journal Of Endocrinology And Metabolism, 23(3), 379-379.
4. Chikumba, P. (2009). Application Of Geographic İnformation System (GIS) In Drug Logistics Management Information System (LMIS) At District Level In Malawi: Opportunities And Challenges. In International Conference On E-Infrastructure And E-Services For Developing Countries (Pp. 105-115). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
5. Choi, T. M. Chiu, C. H. & Chan, H. K. (2016). Risk Management Of Logistics Systems. Transportation Research Part E: Logistics And Transportation Review, Elsevier, Volume 90, Pages 1-6.
6. Emanet, S. (2018). Türkiye'de Üretilen Soğuk Zincir İlaçların Lojistik Faaliyetlerinin İyileştirilmesi Üzerine Bir Çalışma. Okan Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, İstanbul.
7. Günaydın, T. (2016). Sağlık Malzemleri-İlaç Lojistiği, Okan Üniversitesi, İstanbul. Erişim Tarihi: 15.03.2021, https://pt.slideshare.net/gunaydintugay
8. Heinemann, L. Braune, K. Carter, A. Zayani, A. & Krämer, L. A. (2021). Insulin Storage: A Critical Reappraisal. Journal Of Diabetes Science And Technology, 15(1), 147-159.ydn. doi: 10.1177/1932296819900258

9. İlaç Takip Sistemi (İTS) Portalı, (2019). İlaç takip sistemi. Erişim tarihi: 18.02.2021, https://www.its.gov.tr/its/ilac_takip_sistemi_nedir#ProjeTanimi
10. İzer, D. A. (2017). Soğuk Zincir Lojistiği İçinde Risklerin Azaltılmasında Yeni Teknolojiler.
11. Jie, L. (2010). Issues Of Food-Related Cold-Chain Logistics Management In China. In 2010 International Conference on Logistics Systems and Intelligent Management (ICLSIM) (pp. 1319–1322). IEEE. doi: 10.1109 / ICLSIM.2010.5461178 Kırbaş, A. S. (2019). Tam Otomatik Çift Kompresörlü Akıllı Aşı ve İlaç Dolabı Tasarımı. Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Bursa.
12. Kızılırmak, B. (2019). Uluslararası Şirketlerde Dış Kaynak Kullanımı ve Lojistik Anlayış; Sivas Özelinde Bir Uygulama. Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Dergisi, 20(1), 447-461.
13. Küçüktürkmen, B., & Bozkır, A. (2018). Özel Saklama Koşulu Gerektiren veya Soğuk Zincire Tabi İlaçlar Ve Uygulamalar Açısından Değerlendirmeler. Ankara Üniversitesi Eczacılık Fakültesi Farmasötik Teknoloji Anabilim Dalı, 75(3), 305–322.
14. Kolutek, R. (2017). Aşılar. Erişim Tarihi: 18.02.2021, https://slideplayer.biz.tr/slide/ Korucuk, S.& Erdal, H. (2018). AHP-VIKOR Bütünleşik Yaklaşımıyla Lojistik Risk Faktörlerinin ve Risk Yönetimi Araçlarının Sıralanması: Samsun İli Örneği. İşletme Araştırmaları Dergisi, 10(3 S 282305).
15. Li, F.& Chen, Z. (2011). Brief Analysis Of Application Of RFID İn Pharmaceutical Cold-Chain Temperature Monitoring System. In Proceedings 2011 International Conference On Transportation, Mechanical, And Electrical En. doi: 10.1109 / TMEE.2011.6199709
16. Lu, S. Gu, Y. & Predko, R. (2015). How To Assess Risks In Weak Links In Cold Chain Distribution Process? Gineering (TMEE) (pp. 2418-2420). IEEE.
17. Ma, G. & Guan, H. (2009). The Application Research Of Cold-Chain Logistics Delivery Schedule Based On JIT. In 2009 International Conference on Industrial Mechatronics and Automation (pp. 368–370). IEEE.
18. Monteleone, S. Sampaio, M. & Maia, R. F. (2017). A novel Deployment Of Smart Cold Chain System Using 2G-RFID-Sys Temperature Monitoring In Medicine Cold Chain Based On Internet Of Things. In 2017 IEEE International Conference on Service Operations and Logistics, and Informatics (SOLI) (pp. 205-210). IEEE. doi: 10.1109 / SOLI.2017.8120995
19. Ooi, D. (2008). Insulin Access İn The Developing World: Problems And Solutions. Diabetes Intl, 8, 5. Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
20. Pezzuto, J. M., Johnson, M. E., Manasse, H. R. (2013). Biotechnology and Pharmacy. Berlin, Almanya: Springer Science & Business Media.
21. Sijabat, R. & Putri, T. W. S. (2018). Review of the Logistics Process in the Pharmaceutical Sector. Retrieved from http://e-journal.uajy.ac.id/14649/1/JURNAL.pdf
22. Shafaat, K. Hussain, A. Kumar, B. Ul Hasan, R. Prabhat, P. & Yadav, V. K. (2013). An Overview: Storage Of Pharmaceutical Products. World Journal Of Pharmacy And Pharmaceutıcal Scıences, 2(5), 2499-515. ISSN 2278 – 4357.
23. Taşar, S. İ. (2019). Ankara İlinde Çalışan Eczacıların İlaç Temininde Yaşanan Sorunlar Konusunda Görüşleri: Anket Çalışması. Çankaya Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, Çankaya.
24. Taylor, J. (2001). Recommendations On The Control And Monitoring Of Storage and Transportation Temperatures Of Medicinal Products. The Pharmaceutical Al Journal, 267(28), 128-131.
25. T.C. Ulaştırma Bakanlığı (2006). Ulusal Kamu Araştırma Programı. Erişim tarihi: 22.02.202. https://docplayer.biz.tr/1342940-T-c-ulastirma-bakanligi-ulusal-ulastirma-kamu-arastirma-programi.html
26. Torun, S. D. (2006). Ümraniye Eğitim Ve Araştırma Sağlık Grup Başkanlığı Bölgesinde Aşılama Hizmetleri Ve Soğuk Zincir Yönetimi Üzerine Eğitimin Etkisi. Marmara Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü, İstanbul.
27. Türk Eczacıları Birliği. (29.12.2020). Aşılar Hakkında Bilinmesi Gerekenler. Erişim tarihi: 05.03.2021, https://www.zeo.org.tr/haber-5067
28. Vesper, J., Kartoğlu, Ü., Bishara, R. & Reeves, T. (2010). A Case Study In Experiential Learning: Pharmaceutical Cold Chain Management On Wheels. Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, 30(4), 229–236. doi:10.1002/chp.20087
29. WHO; 2007. (2007). In-Depth Evaluation Of Reaching Every District Approach In The Africanregion.
30. Zhang, D. & Han, T. (2020). Analysis Of Risk Control Factors Of Medical Cold Chain Logistics Based On ISM model. In 2020 Chinese Control And Decision Conference (CCDC) (pp. 4222-4227). IEEE. doi: 10.1109/CCDC49329.2020.9164042
31. https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:1BHQydkshLEJ:https://www.titck.gov.tr/PortalAdmin/Uploads/UnitPageAttachment/c1cfd8dc10483.pdf+&cd=1&hl=tr&ct=clnk&gl=tr