Tips for Shipping Pharmaceuticals

Updated on March 2, 2021
Tips for Shipping Pharmaceuticals

The ability to quickly move vast amounts of medical supplies anywhere around the globe was a society-changing advancement responsible for saving an untold number of lives. There is, however, a hefty price to pay for this transportation revolution. This cost is necessary to get this valuable equipment into the hands of the doctors who need it most. But you can take some actions to reduce these burdens. Here are a few tips for shipping pharmaceuticals designed to get supplies where they need to go.

Follow the Law

“Pharmaceutical” is a broad term encompassing many potentially dangerous products, including human organs, medications, vaccinations, and bodily fluids. Many federal, state, and local laws are in place to regulate the transport of these items, and ignorance is no excuse for noncompliance. Failure to follow these laws results in hefty fines and possible criminal charges.

Proper Licensing and Paperwork

Licensing is crucial for shipping, especially with pharmaceuticals requiring specific certifications for transport. It falls on the sender and receiver to ensure the company shipping the products has these additional permits. Having the proper paperwork for the shipment is just as important. The paperwork creates documentation about the items sent, who is transporting them, and where they are delivered. This makes tracing theft and fraud much more straightforward.

Transportation

The last few tips for shipping pharmaceuticals involve how your medical products are shipped and delivered. Finding the right transportation partner is vital to the success of a pharmaceutical company. The right shipping partner will have the option of temperature controls for products requiring extra care. Also, many third-party logistics companies offer insurance in the event of a catastrophe in transit.

Security Measures

Theft and fraud represent two genuine threats when delivering pharmaceuticals. The paperwork mentioned above makes tracking cases much easier, especially if you snap photos of the package before and after each shipment, including transferring custody between freight companies. This makes nonstop carrier service critical, as are background checks for everybody who has access to the shipment.