It has been clear for some time that the pharmaceutical supply chain has been concerned with meeting the November 27, 2019, saleable returns milestone. As the HDA’s Research Foundation’s annual Serialization Readiness Survey (conducted in May) notes, 79 percent of manufacturers have concerns with the viability of the Verification Router Service (VRS), while 82 percent of distributors are unsure about meeting the requirement.

October is American Pharmacists Month, which provides an opportunity to recognize and celebrate how pharmacists support patients’ health and wellness in communities across the country.

It is no secret that the U.S. healthcare system is complex. Connecting hundreds of thousands of healthcare providers with the medicines and healthcare products that patients rely on every day — both safely and efficiently — requires coordination between a diverse set of stakeholders. 

Most days, pharmaceutical distributors fulfill their vital role largely unnoticed. Patients take for granted their medications will reach them safely and quickly. They don’t think about the systems, protocols, professionalism and technology required to make delivery seamless from manufacturer to pharmacy and, ultimately, to them.

Step into a pharmaceutical distribution center, and you will find a modern facility bustling with activity. In today’s state-of-the-art facilities, passionate employees, supported by sophisticated new technology, work around the clock to fulfill shipments to hundreds of thousands of pharmacies, hospitals and other healthcare facilities across the country.