Cold chain – the transport and storage of drugs at controlled temperatures – is an important component of medical logistics, especially now as the global pharmaceutical industry gears up to produce biologic drugs and other temperature-sensitive molecules. The World Health Organization’s Global Compact on Diabetes calls for greater efforts from the private sector to support supply chain management, including cold storage.
“We value Direct Relief’s extensive experience in logistics and end-to-end supply chain management and know this effort will make a huge difference in providing the medicines needed to address critical health problems to patients around the world. health like diabetes,” says Leigh Ann Pusey, Lilly’s Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Communications, “Efforts to increase access to medicines, especially insulin, are only beneficial when effective cold chain systems are in place to keep them at the right temperature on their way to patients.”
Lilly’s support for the Direct Relief initiative is part of the Lilly 30×30 program, which aims to remove barriers and improve access to quality healthcare by 2030 and improve the quality of life for 30 million people living in resource-limited environments Effort. The initiative builds on Lilly’s decades of work in global healthcare to improve equitable access to diabetes care and medicines. In 2022, Lilly and its partners will provide insulin and reusable pens to Direct Relief to support the Life for a Child program, which has impacted more than 30 countries around the world.
“We thank Lilly for supporting this initiative. Their dedication to global health and access to essential medical products is making a real difference in the lives of those who need it,” he explains. Thomas Tighe, President and CEO of Direct Relief, “The lack of cold chain distribution capacity in much of the world prevents many people from accessing the medicines and treatments they need for free. Medical products and those who do not have them.
In its fiscal year 2022, Direct Relief will distribute more than 47 million daily doses of temperature-controlling medications valued at $656 million (wholesale acquisition cost). This represents an increase of 600% compared to five years ago in 2018. The organization operates out of 8,300 square feet of refrigerated space capable of storing up to 677 pallets of temperature-sensitive drugs.
By ensuring that resource-constrained areas of the world have last-mile medical refrigeration capacity, more people will have access to the medicines they need to live healthy lives.
