As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, the demand for safe and efficient transportation of temperature-sensitive medicines will remain a critical piece of the puzzle for patients around the world to receive life-saving treatments in the most optimal condition.
The care needs of ageing people will further impact how healthcare services are rendered. Approximately 22% of the global population is expected to be older than 65 by 2050, which presents new opportunities to provide at-home healthcare services.1
More than 50% of all new drugs in development are biologics, with the global market expected to grow from $401.6 billion in 2023 to $562.1 billion by 2028.2
These complex products require precise temperature control throughout their entire supply chain journey, pushing logistics providers to develop advanced cold chain solutions.
In recent years, along with the pandemic, several challenges came to light for the industry that will help to shape the future of the cold chain, these include the following.
- Increased need for deep-frozen and cryogenic storage: storage at these temperatures is not new for the logistics industry but will continue to be an important requirement in the coming years.
- Continued supply chain disruptions: whether it’s labour disputes, shifts in manufacturing or added strain on the global freight market, the pressure within supply chains will remain.
- Enhanced costs and complexities of scale: shipping compliance and costs can be a major barrier to growth, especially as companies continue to expand globally.
- Expanded players in the value chain: as cold chains grow to include more players who are responsible for smaller pieces, co-ordination and collaboration are increasingly critical.
- Increased sustainability requirements: reusable packaging cuts down on single-use waste and can drive significant cost savings and better performance.
The healthcare logistics industry has been investing to meet these needs for a long time. We are building out a “network within a network” to make sure we provide the best quality end-to-end service.
Last year saw us more than double the footprint of our dedicated healthcare facilities since 2020. With 80% of pharmaceutical products in Europe now requiring temperature-controlled transportation, we’ve also expanded our specialised temperature-controlled fleet across Benelux and Italy.
The vehicles are capable of transporting healthcare products in specialist packaging in temperature-controlled environments and offer next-day, GDP-compliant delivery for the hospitals, pharmacies, clinics, laboratories and doctors that are all increasingly relying on time-critical and temperature-sensitive treatments for their patients.
Pioneering temperature-controlled solutions in 2024
The cold chain market itself has been steadily rising during the past 5 years and is projected to reach $23.7 billion by 2030.3 Innovation in packaging, technology-driven automation, digital management tools — including robotics — will all play a big role in the expansion and growth of the supply/cold chain in the years to come.
With the continued growth of Europe’s healthcare industry, ongoing investments in the cold chain network are needed to meet the industry’s current and future needs.
With Ireland as a European hub for the next generation of pharma, 2024 will see UPS launch a first-of-its-kind healthcare facility in Dublin.
The new facility will boast nearly 6000 m² of healthcare-dedicated space to connect Ireland’s growing pharmaceutical and medical technology industries — now accounting for more than 50% of exports from the country.4
Sustainability is also a critical aspect of the future of the pharma cold chain. The health logistics industry needs to be committed to reducing its environmental impact through various initiatives, such as using renewable electricity, investing in alternative fuel vehicles and promoting reusable packaging.
By focusing on sustainability, the health logistics industry it is not only ensuring the safe transportation of temperature-sensitive medicines, but also contributing to a greener and more responsible future.
Continued growth within the cold chain market is crucial for the future of healthcare … and our industry is working hard to evolve and adapt to support this.
In 2024, we will see more innovative and sustainable solutions with the development of patient-focused services with cutting-edge technology to ensure that life-saving treatments and equipment reach patients when they need them.
References
- S. Pahlevanynejad, et al., “Personalized Mobile Health for Elderly Home Care: A Systematic Review of Benefits and Challenges,” Int. J. Telemed. Appl. (2023): doi: 10.1155/2023/5390712.
- www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/biologics-market.
- www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/healthcare-cold-chain-logistics-market-6550.
- www.ipha.ie/about-us/contribution-to-the-irish-economy/.
