For many people, prescription medicines are a need. According to recent data, seven out of ten adults take some type of prescribed medication. With such a rapid turnover of drugs, adequate warehousing is required.
Poor MHRA approved warehousing UK might result in patient toxicity or loss. As a result, you must know how to properly package and store such medication for the duration of its use.
Medicine saves lives and helps millions of people every day. As a result, when handling medications, warehouses must adhere to rules.
The supply chain for medicines begins with the producer and finishes with the pharmacist. It is transported and kept in a variety of warehouses across the country as part of this supply chain. Medication storage, on the other hand, is a completely different ballgame with different supply chain requirements than many other products.
Pharmaceutical warehousing guarantees that the drugs are not damaged or contaminated. They can only benefit the patients at the end of the supply chain if they maintain their current state.
What is the definition of pharmaceutical warehousing?
Before being supplied to the appropriate recipients, drugs must be properly stored. Pharmaceuticals require proper control, according to the FDA, to avoid counterfeits and interference with distribution networks. As a result, everyone involved in drug storage must follow the CGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practices).
All participants in the drug supply chain, including producers, warehouses, and distributors, must follow these CGMPs. Proper storage of all pharmaceuticals to avoid contamination is one of the most important CGMP guidelines to remember. Cleaning and inspection of the storage areas is required on a regular basis.
Another rule to follow is that all pharmaceuticals must be divided into lots and given a barcode for traceability. Labeling the pharmaceuticals as rejections, quarantined, or cleared for shipping is also critical.
After that, you have the distribution processes for each drug written down in detail for everyone to see. Include the protocol to follow in the event of a drug recall. Include a defined procedure for storing each drug.
Adherence to these defined CGMP standards is one of the most difficult aspects of pharmaceutical storage. There are many different sorts of medications available. Each has different storage and handling requirements to consider. As a pharmaceutical warehouse, you must discover a solution to suit the needs of each drug in your storage facility.
Remember to keep an eye on the warehouse temperature at all times to avoid harming the medications. It explains why pharmaceutical warehousing is a difficult and expensive area to operate. The additional cost is due to the difficulty of meeting all of the different medications’ storage needs.
You may still boost your storage space and efficiency by doing a few things.
Pharmaceutical Warehousing Best Practices
1. Effective Space Planning
As previously said, a warehouse can hold thousands of medications, each with its own unique storage requirements. Have a thorough plan put out for the storage area before you start arranging your pharmaceutical warehousing. Know which pharmaceuticals demand a freezer and which require a cold, dry environment to be stored.
Only by planning the warehouse from the beginning can you ensure that it runs efficiently. Staff can also learn the supply chain’s requirements from the start. You can also remark when you need extra room or more space to accommodate an increase in inventory.
2. Demand Forecasting
You can plan around demand, even though medications are required all year. During flu season, for example, you can stock up on cold medicine. The same is true during allergy season. Your supply chain will work more smoothly if you plan ahead for when a certain drug is in great demand.
3. Utilize the concept of bin locations
Pharmaceutical warehouses are sometimes large and difficult to tour at once. You can use bin location in this situation to help you navigate through the several levels. Bin locations are also useful for employees who want to quickly determine a warehouse’s exact position.
4. Continual Staff Training
Pharmaceutical distribution is quickly adopting technology. Regular training is one approach to assist your employees stay current with the times. This training helps them understand what new software is available and what changes are coming to the warehouse. It’s also the greatest method to think about distinct issues that are influencing your setup.
5. Make Cross-Docking Work for You
Not all drugs need to be stored for long periods of time. You can use cross-docking, which allows drugs to arrive and be transported out instantly without taking up shelf space, and it works best for high-demand medications.
6. Partner with a Pharmaceutical Warehousing Company
In terms of operation, any pharmaceutical warehouse business demands the best logistics partner. You notice that your operation is going smoothly after you find the right one. They must meet specified criteria when looking for such a companion. For starters, they must always operate in a legal and transparent manner, as dealing with drugs is quite sensitive.
Additionally, their trucks must always be clean and well-maintained. Drugs’ sensitivity makes them easy to contaminate, which can make receivers sick. Additionally, make certain that the logistics partner you hire has current security procedures in place to keep each package safe while in storage and transit.
7. Maintaining accurate inventory records
Pharmaceuticals are highly sensitive, and inventory management throughout transit and storage is essential. For the supply chain, implement the best inventory tracking management system. It allows your personnel to keep track of everything that comes in and goes out.
Final Thoughts
Pharmaceutical warehousing is more difficult since it necessitates a high level of specialization to keep the pharmaceuticals in good condition. You must also engage with the correct logistics partner to guarantee that the supply chain runs smoothly.
Before you get started, figure out how much it will cost to set up such a business. After that, plan out the layout of the entire warehouse. The warehouse must be well-planned regardless of the size of the enterprise.
