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Cold chain is a temperature regulated form of preservation used to store food products, drugs and other supplies. Through this miraculous technology, products can retain their quality while making the entire healthcare process easier.
According to history, the cold chain method was used as far back as 1797 when the British fishermen used it to preserve fish stockpiles. Today, it has grown into an effective method used by different industries, especially healthcare.
In this article, we’ll be discussing the major importance of cold chains in the healthcare industry.
- Preservation of Healthcare Products
Just like food, most pharmaceutical products need to be preserved to avoid spoilage, health hazards, and reduced effectiveness. Really, the time between production and distribution can’t be measured and a lot could go wrong during that period.
To avoid any of these, industries resort to cold chain logistics. Here, the drug gets stored in the right temperature so that after production, during transportation and before distribution, the drug remain in the right state.
- Cost Effective Delivery
For many companies, the cost of distribution is quite high and could affect the total expected profit. Aside from outsourcing the delivery aspect of the healthcare products to CDMO, others prefer to go the cold chain logistics route. The longevity that a cold chain supply management often provides, alongside the reduction in energy consumed helps make it a more affordable option for drug transport and delivery.
- Eliminates the Need for Refrigerants in the Healthcare Industry
Another interesting advantage of cold chain logistics is the perfect alternative is to invest in cooling systems for most industries. On one side, this can be highly capital intensive and quite difficult, especially for startups. On the other hand, these cooling systems are massive, hence requiring enough space for operation.
All this boils down to using a bigger space and paying more energy bills. However, since cold chain logistics can transport wholesale products without fear of spoilage, healthcare industries can manage their little space.
- Good Storage for Chemical Products
The use of cold chains in healthcare helps industries store chemicals safely. These chemicals most times can react negatively when placed under inappropriate temperature. Also, explosives and natural rubber last longer with the cold chain method.
- Versatility
Cold chains are very versatile. Just like mentioned in the points above, it can serve any purpose from storage to transportation and preservation. With this, a lot of activities have become simplified in the healthcare industry and companies have to worry less about spoilage.
Besides, there are two types of cold chain packaging systems each with its advantages. Depending on the companies needs, these packaging systems can prove very useful in different situations.
Conclusion
The integrity of most healthcare products depends on the effective management of a cold chain supply line. A disruption in the cold chain could lead to damage or spoilage that renders the commodity worthless,l
Really, the impact of cold chain supply management in the healthcare industry cannot be listed completely. In this article, you have read five of the top advantages enjoyed in the industry. In the future, a lot more is expected, especially with the advancement of technology and research.
Throughout the year, our writers feature fresh, in-depth, and relevant information for our audience of 40,000+ healthcare leaders and professionals. As a healthcare business publication, we cover and cherish our relationship with the entire health care industry including administrators, nurses, physicians, physical therapists, pharmacists, and more. We cover a broad spectrum from hospitals to medical offices to outpatient services to eye surgery centers to university settings. We focus on rehabilitation, nursing homes, home care, hospice as well as men’s health, women’s heath, and pediatrics.
