Pharmaceutical distributors deliver millions of medicines and healthcare products to providers nationwide — rain, snow or shine. Every day, hundreds of thousands of patients across the country depend on the uninterrupted delivery of prescription medicines, and pharmaceutical distributors work around the clock to ensure these products get to where they need to be, safely and efficiently. As winter marches on, with snowstorms and sub-zero temperatures in parts of the country, HDA member companies rise to the challenge of making sure vital medicines reach the people who need them, no matter what it takes.

Pharmaceutical distributors have a long history of bringing the newest advancements and technologies to their warehouses. Back in 1947, the National Wholesale Druggists’ Association (an early iteration of HDA) tapped Ohio State University marketing experts to reimagine an entirely new type of layout for wholesaler warehouses, which included longer aisles, moving belts, “and roller skates for order pickers.” While the roller skates never caught on, healthcare distributors’ commitment to harnessing innovation to develop facilities that safely and securely get prescription medicines and medical products to the patients who need them has only grown.

With a new year in full swing, HDA President and CEO John M. Gray looked ahead to the organization’s 2019 priorities (along with other industry association executives) as part of the Chain Drug Review “Pharmacy Outlook” feature.

Few people understand exactly what role wholesale distributors play in the pharmaceutical supply chain, often confusing them with manufacturers, pharmacy benefit managers or even pharmacists. Just like the wholesale distributor who helps keep your grocery store shelves stocked with many different food brands, pharmaceutical distributors work with large numbers of suppliers (in this case pharmaceutical manufacturers) to ensure that their products (medicines) are safely, securely and reliably delivered to their ultimate destination — such as a state and federally licensed pharmacy, hospital or long-term care facility.