Pharmarack and IPA release report on “Changing Dynamics of Indian Pharma Supply Chain”

New Delhi: Pharmarack Technologies and the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) have launched a comprehensive report titled “Changing Dynamics of Indian Pharma Supply Chain.”

This report highlights the substantial transformation the Indian pharmaceutical supply chain has undergone in the past decade, driven in part by the COVID-19 pandemic and recent regulatory updates.

The report emphasizes the growing importance of compliance across the entire pharmaceutical supply chain, beginning with the doctor’s prescription and continuing through to the final delivery of medicines. Recent regulations, such as the Good Manufacturing Practices (Revised Schedule M) and Good Marketing Practices (UCPMP), are key drivers of these changes, and the report stresses the need for Good Distribution Practices to maintain quality at every stage of the distribution process.

Dhruv Gulati, CEO of Pharmarack Technologies, highlighted, “Patient welfare is the cornerstone of the pharma sector and must be at the heart of every distribution channel. The doctor is the guardian of the patient’s health, making their prescription fundamental to the entire process. Empowering pharmacists, optimizing the distribution network, and leveraging technology will be essential to building an efficient, transparent, and resilient supply chain that truly benefits patients.”

Pharmarack’s data analytics platform played a central role in the research for the report, gathering real-time data from over 200,000 chemists and 12,000 distributors across India. The research also included in-depth interviews with stakeholders such as top pharmaceutical companies, distributors, and retail chemists, providing a well-rounded view of the industry’s evolution. The report draws lessons from global best practices and outlines strategies for further improving the Indian pharmaceutical supply chain.

Pharmarack and IPA’s report calls for the upskilling and digitization of pharmacies, the prioritization of patient safety by ensuring compliance with drug quality standards, the enhancement of transparency to combat counterfeit drugs, and the leveraging of digital technologies to build a resilient supply chain. These recommendations are designed to elevate the Indian pharmaceutical industry, making it a global benchmark with a strong focus on patient welfare.