Minimizing losses in drug shipments

Panama is synonymous with drugs, because the largest laboratories in the world are present on the isthmus, covering the distribution to Central and South America.

Therefore, logistics operators and pharmaceutical companies are seeking mechanisms to minimize losses in the industry caused by heat in shipments.

During the Expo Logistica event an innovative service was introduced in Panama and for the region. Elsewhere, such as in Europe, what is being offered is the KN Pharma Chain, dedicated to the movement of temperature controlled logistics cargo.

Diego Marelli, a Kuehne + Nagel executive, explained that initially it was designed for air cargo, but here in Panama it is being implemented for land freight to cover Central America. Asked why the service has been dedicated to the pharmaceutical industry, he said that global standards became increasingly stringent and customers (pharmaceutical companies) are regulated by the World Health Organization (WHO).

With the KN Pharma Chain system, once the cargo reaches its destination it can be shown that it never lost quality in the cold chain.

Marelli recognized that pharmaceuticals shipped by sea are safe in refrigerated containers.

For Central America overland not only costs can be reduced with this system, but more volume can be moved.

KN Pharma is distributed in 58 Kuehne + Nagel stations worldwide and can move drugs from Asia to Latin America and vice versa, because monitoring comes from the supplier’s plant until the product reaches the consignee.

According to Marelli, this is an advantage because it can demonstrate to the competent authorities of each destination station that the controlled temperature of the merchandize was never lost and it has the possibility that if there is a deviation of temperature the alarm is immediately given to enable the client to take appropriate action.

One of the pharmaceutical companies consulted on this new service said the pharmaceutical industry loses thousands of dollars annually in Latin America because in many cases the product must be destroyed because it has been lost in the cold chain.