Raising concerns over delays in the delivery of essential medicines, the Retail Distribution Chemist Alliance (RDCA), Delhi, has appealed to State Chief Minister Rekha Gupta for immediate policy intervention to permit round-the-clock movement of pharmaceutical supplies across Delhi.
In a detailed representation, the Association flagged that restrictions on vehicular movement and limited operational hours are disrupting the medicine supply chain in the national capital, with potential consequences for patient care. Delhi, it noted, is not only a healthcare provider for its own residents but also a critical referral centre for patients from neighbouring States, making uninterrupted drug availability essential.
At present, movement restrictions confine pharmaceutical distribution largely to a narrow time window between late morning and early evening. In a city grappling with chronic traffic congestion, this has created logistical bottlenecks. Travel time across different parts of Delhi can stretch to over an hour, reducing the number of deliveries that vehicles can complete in a day.
The RDCA President Sandeep Nangia in the letter to the Chief Minister emphasised that pharmaceutical logistics operate under strict timelines. Delivery vehicles are typically required to service multiple distributors, hospitals and retail outlets in a single day. However, with restricted hours, meeting these operational demands has become increasingly difficult, leading to delays in restocking medicines at various points in the supply chain.
The challenge is compounded by the centralised distribution model followed by many pharmaceutical companies, where supplies are dispatched from a single depot to multiple locations across the city. Under current conditions, covering all intended destinations within a limited timeframe is proving impractical, said Nangia.
Particular concern has been raised regarding emergency medicines and newly introduced vaccines, which often need to be delivered within short timeframes and sometimes multiple times a day. Any delay in such cases can directly impact treatment outcomes, especially in emergency wards and intensive care units.
Another critical issue pertains to temperature-sensitive drugs, including vaccines and biologics, which must be stored and transported within specific temperature ranges—typically between 2°C and 8°C, or below 25°C. Prolonged transit times, especially during Delhi’s extreme summer conditions, increase the risk of temperature fluctuations, potentially compromising the quality and effectiveness of these medicines.
Hospitals and nursing homes, the RDCA noted, have already begun experiencing supply delays, which can disrupt treatment schedules. For critically ill patients, even minor interruptions in drug availability can have serious consequences.
Warning of broader public health implications, the Association pointed out that disruptions in the pharmaceutical supply chain could lead to treatment interruptions, delays in emergency response and deterioration in patient outcomes. Ensuring seamless access to medicines, it stressed, is a fundamental requirement of an efficient healthcare system.
Among other measures, the Association has recommended that pharmaceutical logistics be formally recognised as an essential emergency healthcare service. It has also proposed the creation of a dedicated “green corridor” to facilitate priority movement of urgent and temperature-sensitive supplies, along with improved coordination between health and traffic authorities.
With patient inflow continuing to rise, the need for a resilient and efficient pharmaceutical supply chain has become more pressing than ever, maintained the Association.
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