Emerging Trends in Healthcare Supply Chain

The healthcare business has seen tremendous transition in recent years, owing to technological advancements and shifting customer expectations. The healthcare supply chain is one example of a remarkable transformation. The effective healthcare supply chain is crucial in assisting patients and preserving their lives. Adopting digital healthcare technologies is a key step towards increasing efficiency. The transformation of the traditional healthcare supply chain into a digital health supply chain is generating long-term value in healthcare organisations. It provides patients with faster, smoother, cheaper, and safer healthcare services.

While the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of healthcare supply networks, resulting in shortages of PPE and other key medical supplies, it has also served as a stimulus for digital transformation and innovation in health supply chain management. Forward-thinking healthcare companies are using this chance to invest in new technology and harness digital solutions that may assist reinforce and increase the resilience of their supply chains.

Trends in Healthcare Supply Chain –

One of the most important goals currently is to have a smart and digital health supply chain. Digitization in healthcare has the potential to create a supply chain that allows organisations to meet the most current needs of patients and clients. This has the potential to increase the efficiency of the healthcare supply chain.

1. Patient engagement and care are being improved –

Adopting new and innovative digital health tools and technology can improve healthcare supply chain efficiency. By automating operations, medical care organisations and hospital systems may assist save money. Workflow automation can increase worker productivity. The supply chain in healthcare may refocus staff time to better utilise patient care, minimise patient wait time, and reduce the number of rescheduled appointments. 

2. Greater cost-effectiveness – 

The supply chain in the healthcare business is seen as a strategic asset since it has the potential to save considerable amounts of money. Automation in the sector is critical to realising this promise. Supply chain digitization can help to provide a more comprehensive approach to cost-effectiveness. 

3. Technology & Automation –

Automation technologies like Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is automating many manual and repetitive operations in the healthcare supply chain. In warehouses and distribution centres, new age Warehousing Management Softwares are used to automate order picking, packaging, and shipping, decreasing mistakes, and enhancing operational efficiency. Technology is enabling inventory management, restocking, and cycle counting. With technology, service providers can focus more on value-added operations by removing labour-intensive errors in processes.

4. Cold Chain Management – 

The cold chain industry, which includes the transportation and storage of temperature-sensitive products, is constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of pharmaceuticals and healthcare sector. As the value and sensitivity of temperature-sensitive products increase, there is a heightened focus on maintaining cold chain integrity and ensuring product security. This includes implementing robust security measures, such as tamper-evident packaging, video surveillance, and secure transport protocols to prevent theft or unauthorized access to products

Why is Management of Healthcare Supply Chain Complex?

Healthcare supply chain management is distinct since each stakeholder has specific interests to safeguard. Different segments of the supply chain flow may be concentrating on their own objectives. Providers may desire to employ a certain product because they have been educated with it, but hospital management seeks the most cost-effective, high-quality things. Meanwhile, medical device manufacturers may wish to make a profit from their goods.

The healthcare supply chain management process can be inefficient and fragmented since supply chain goals are not always matched within an organisation. To determine particular product budgets, healthcare organisations must consider different requests and points of view.

Conclusion –

Health system supply chains have been compelled by the pandemic to become more robust and proactive, pushing them to their boundaries and increasing their strategic importance inside the company. To continue enhancing the performance of the supply chain, involvement from health system executives and clinical leaders in focused, crucial areas will be essential. Health systems have the chance to make sure that the supplies they require are being given in the most cost-effective manner by making investments in analytical skills.