THE METHOD PHARMACEUTICALS ARE DISTRIBUTED

INTRO

Maintaining the safety of temperature-sensitive products is essential in the intricate process of transporting and storing medications. By keeping them at the proper temperature along the supply chain, cold chain monitoring preserves the quality of the final product. This covers appropriate storage in pharmacies, hospitals, and warehouses. Active substances can be weakened by even small temperature changes, which might lower their effectiveness or potentially put patients at risk.

CHALLENGE

Preventing temperature changes is a significant difficulty in pharmaceutical logistics. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that disrupted cold chains cause up to 20% of temperature-sensitive products to be damaged during transportation. In addition to the potential hazards to patients caused by degraded pharmaceuticals that may lose their efficacy or become hazardous, this results in annual financial losses of over $35 billion.

Strict laws, such Good Distribution Practice (GDP), apply to the pharmaceutical sector and demand that storage conditions be accurately documented and continuously monitored. Financial penalties, reputational harm, and legal ramifications may follow noncompliance. The process of adhering to these standards is intricate and resource-intensive.

Less than 30% of pharmaceutical items used in Africa are produced domestically, according to the African Development Bank and the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A staggering 99% of the continent's vaccines, as well as 70% to 90% of its medications and medical equipment, are imported.

This implies that before reaching their destination, pharmaceutical products usually travel great distances and often cross many nations and continents. Maintaining the proper temperature throughout the whole transportation chain is crucial in these situations to guarantee the medications' safety and effectiveness.

For medications and vaccines, many pharmacies and clinics still use manual temperature monitoring. Usually, thermometers and logbooks are used to manually record the temperature of the refrigerator or freezer at predetermined intervals. This approach takes a lot of time and is prone to mistakes, such missing data or entering numbers incorrectly. Such mistakes might postpone the settlement of any conce s and make it harder to comply with the applicable requirements.

Several forms of transportation, storage facilities, and overseas shipments in various climates are all part of pharmaceutical supply chains. Temperature variations are possible at every transition point, making it difficult to maintain constant temperature control and raising the risk of product deterioration. Fortunately, GPS devices can be very helpful in this regard.

SOLUTION

We use GPS vehicle tracking in conjunction with the EYE Sensor model and the EYE APP to successfully overcome the aforementioned challenges. This combination ensures that sensitive medical products stay within the authorized temperature range throughout the supply chain by providing precise, real-time temperature monitoring.

How it works: To clarify, we outline the solution's operation in two of the most typical situations.

Keeping an Eye on the Temperature while Drugs are Being Transported. For a GPS tracker to receive Bluetooth® Low Energy signals from EYE Sensors, it must be put inside a reefer. To keep an eye on conditions during the trip, these little gadgets can be put inside refrigerated vehicles or straight into temperature-sensitive boxes.

Throughout the trip, EYE Sensors will take and provide real-time temperature data. Their operational temperature range is between -20°C and +60°C, making them ideal for a broad range of pharmaceutical compounds. Temperature thresholds can be set by the sensors, and if values deviate from the specified acceptable range, an alert will sound.

Additionally, they have inte al memory for data logging, which guarantees that all data is safely stored and accessible even in the event of brief signal outages. This guarantees adherence to cold chain monitoring standards. A remote monitoring platform receives all of the tracking device's location and temperature data.

Along with real-time and historical temperature data, logistics personnel can use the selected platform to track the precise location of the goods. This gives complete supply chain visibility, permits prompt action in the event that thresholds are crossed, and provides verifiable evidence that pharmaceutical products have been carried in an appropriate manner.

Observing the Temperature at which Medications are Stored. To continually and accurately monitor temperature, EYE Sensors are installed inside medical refrigeration units. They are certified to a temperature class of ±0.5 °C, which means that the discrepancy between the measured and actual temperatures won't be greater than ±0.5 °C. They also produce extremely accurate measurements. This degree of accuracy and ongoing monitoring guarantee that delicate medications are always kept in the best possible storage conditions.

The EYE APP makes it simple to monitor storage conditions by giving medical teams and responsible staff access to both historical and current temperature data. Additionally, the system allows users to export temperature recordings as needed, such as during compliance checks or inspections. The integrity of medications like vaccines, insulin, and biologics is preserved by keeping storage areas clearly visible, guaranteeing their continued safety and efficacy.

BENEFITS

• Real-Time Monitoring of Storage and Transportation: Pharmaceutical supplies are always kept in safe conditions whether they are being carried in a refrigerated vehicle or stored in a pharmacy or warehouse.

• Temperature Deviation Alerts that are Sent Out Instantly: these signals enable prompt action and save medication spoiling.

• Data Integrity is Guaranteed by Inte al Memory: the EYE Sensor retains temperature data even in the event of signal interruptions, guaranteeing that no information is lost.

• Customizable Temperature Thresholds: Users can specify acceptable temperature ranges, and the device will automatically sound an alert if the conditions beyond certain ranges.

• Broad Temperature Range: The solution can be used to store and transport pharmaceuticals in a wide range of conditions, with temperatures monitored between -20 and +60 °C.

• No Wiring is Required: EYE Sensors interact wirelessly via Bluetooth®, eliminating the need for wiring and guaranteeing a speedy, neat, and economical installation.