Greek
London (United Kingdom), 25 April 2019 - Alliance Healthcare, a leading pharmaceutical wholesaler and healthcare services provider in Europe, has selected Zetes to ensure compliance with the Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD), which came into force on the 9th February 2019.
FMD stipulates that wholesalers and third-party logistics providers need to have the capability to verify and, where required, decommission products instantaneously against data held on the National Medicines Verification System (NMVS). As such, Alliance Healthcare sought a ready-made solution that could ensure they were immediately compliant.
A turnkey solution for FMD compliance
Alliance Healthcare has implemented Zetes’ turnkey FMD solution across more than 100 sites throughout ten of its European territories. Through a combination of Zetes’ logistics execution solution, ZetesMedea, and its advanced supply chain traceability software, ZetesOlympus, Alliance Healthcare is able to streamline event handling, reporting and communication with the national hubs.
How does it work?
Through integration with a number of internal warehouse management systems (WMS), ZetesMedea manages the standard workflows to enable the verification and/or the decommissioning of products. Alliance Healthcare’s warehouse operatives are able to scan medicines with handheld or desktop terminals and the data is captured and verified in real-time by ZetesOlympus. Whether a product is being verified or decommissioned, the data captured is automatically checked against the National Medicines Verification System (NVMS), and stored in ZetesOlympus, in line with the FMD regulations. Additionally, the solution further extends capability by allowing Alliance Healthcare to communicate with third-party systems, further enhancing supply chain collaboration and communication.
Zetes’ FMD solution empowers us to have full visibility of the product pathway, eliminating the risk of non-compliance.
Joaquim Simoes, Director of Operations and Regional Managing Director at Alliance Healthcare
Patient safety first
Joaquim Simoes, Director of Operations and Regional Managing Director at Alliance Healthcare commented: “Patient safety is of the utmost importance and at the heart of what we do. In preparation for the FMD coming into effect, we required a ready-made solution that would not only integrate with our existing systems but also ensure we were immediately compliant. Zetes’ FMD solution empowers us to have full visibility of the product pathway, eliminating the risk of non-compliance.”
Alan Wirtz, CEO, Zetes adds: “We’re delighted to have partnered with Alliance Healthcare to support them with their proactive approach to compliance. With the recently implemented FMD regulations, our turnkey solution integrates seamlessly with internal systems and external suppliers.
“We are pleased to be providing Alliance Healthcare with the flexibility and scalability required to strengthen their already robust practices. We are working collaboratively with the organisation to provide a future-proof solution, capable of responding not only to FMD but also to any further regulatory changes.”
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About Alliance Healthcare
Alliance Healthcare is the wholesale and healthcare services business of Walgreens Boots Alliance, supplying medicines, other healthcare products and related services to more than 110,000** pharmacies, doctors, health centres and hospitals each year from 291 distribution centres in 11* countries. Alliance Healthcare’s range of products and services makes it a holistic healthcare services provider for pharmacists and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Alliance Healthcare wholesale businesses provide high core service levels to pharmacists in terms of frequency of delivery, product availability, delivery accuracy, timeliness and reliability. The company also offers innovative added-value services which help pharmacists develop their own businesses. This includes membership of Alphega Pharmacy, their pan-European network for independent pharmacies. In addition to wholesaling of medicines and other healthcare products Alliance Healthcare businesses provide tailored services and solutions to pharmaceutical manufacturers. These include pre-wholesale and contract logistics (mainly under the Alloga brand), sales support (Skills in Healthcare), as well as innovative and specialized healthcare services, covering clinical homecare, dispensing services, and clinical trial support (mainly under the Alcura brand).
* As of August 31, 2018, excluding equity method investments.
** For 12 months, ending August 31, 2018, excluding equity method investments.
