Each day, millions of patients across the country walk into their local pharmacy to pick up their prescription — from complex, breakthrough treatments to routine health and wellness management. But behind this familiar routine is a remarkable process of collaboration within the healthcare supply chain.

HDA’s Faces of the Supply Chain series continued this past month with the release of new videos featuring perspectives from nine distribution sector experts. Interviews touched upon topics ranging from innovations in healthcare distribution and manufacturing; the industry’s focus on patients; supply chain resilience through the COVID-19 pandemic; and more.

While the business of pharmaceutical distribution has changed significantly over the past eight decades, HDA members like Capital Wholesale Drug Company (Capital Drug) have continued to play an essential role in providing safe and efficient healthcare delivery to trusted pharmacists and providers.

The global supply chain continues to face scrutiny, with port backups and product shortages grabbing headlines. However, as Chuck Forsaith, Vice President and Founder of HDA’s Pharmaceutical Cargo Security Coalition (PCSC), shared in a recent episode of the Pharmacy Crossroads podcast, there is another supply chain risk impacting trading partners throughout the healthcare distribution industry — which HDA’s PCSC has been diligently tracking and working to combat. Pharmacy Crossroads, hosted by pharmacy industry veteran Bruce Kneeland, provides an insider voice for the community pharmacy industry and is a member of the Pharmacy Podcast Network.

Events spanning COVID-19 vaccine distribution to shipping containers held up at port have made the supply chain a “kitchen-table” issue during the past year. Many industries experienced notable disruptions in their delivery of goods and supplies; however, as noted by President and CEO Chip Davis, “[P]harmacies, health systems and physicians’ offices, more than 180,000 across the country, remain stocked with the lifesaving medications and vaccines patients need. That didn’t happen by accident.” Davis’ perspective was featured alongside healthcare supply chain association leaders as part of Chain Drug Review’s annual “Pharmacy Outlook” feature.