Losses in Pharmaceutical Supply Chains: challenges in efficient vaccine distribution and utilization

Abstract

The article is devoted to the research the problems that arise in pharmaceutical vaccine supply chains. Slow vaccination leads to global economic losses, and the lack of free access to vaccines in many developing countries is a problem not so much in the economic category as in the cost of human life category, which is confirmed by the research of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the United Nations (UN). Pharmaceutical vaccine supply chains are subject to special organization and flow management requirements to avoid waste. In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, bottlenecks inevitably arise that lead to economic, social, human losses, potential and real losses of vaccines and an increasing pressure on reverse logistics. The main bottlenecks at each stage of the supply chain have been identified, which indicate a shift in the main problems in the pharmaceutical supply chain to the distribution and last mile logistics. A detailed analysis of the vaccine distribution system in the city of Kiev was carried out with the help of sites that cover information on used vaccines and losses based on the types of vaccination points of different forms of ownership. Vaccination sites were ranked according to the degree of effective use of vaccines. As a result, the problems of insufficient information support of the vaccination campaign by government agencies were identified, which leads to the loss of vaccines. The role of the state in solving these problems was assumed by public organizations. To accomplish these tasks, an interactive vaccination map was launched, which makes it possible to find the nearest vaccination point, see how many vaccinations were given in a particular medical institution and how many vaccine doses were potentially lost. For the study, empirical research, data analysis and synthesis, expert assessments and generalization methods were used. Calculated the amount of real and potential monetary losses from vaccines that have been disposed of. Recommendations on the use of innovative tools such as Blockchain to prevent potential and manage existing problems in pharmaceutical vaccine supply chains were provided.