Warehouse-in-a-Box to enhance pharmaceutical distribution network
The contract was awarded in July 2014 to Imperial Health Sciences, for which Resolve Capacity is a service provider, and was implemented in Côte d’Ivoire on behalf of New Public Health Pharmacy (NPSP), the organisation responsible for the distribution of pharmaceutical products for public health institutions operated by the country’s Ministry of Health.
Along with its partners Turnkey Infrastructure Solutions, Resolve Capacity implemented its unique modular infrastructure solution for this $5.8 million, 4,095 m² warehouse project, which includes administration facilities, etc.
Côte d’Ivoire pharmaceutical network enhanced
“We broke ground in October 2014, and were pleased to hand the warehouse over to NPSP in January 2016,” says Arno Haigh, managing executive at Resolve Capacity. “This new warehouse will significantly enhance the pharmaceutical distribution network in Côte d’Ivoire, as well as storage capacity for the distribution of quality medicines.”
The construction of the prefabricated warehouse is the result of joint funding by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Global Fund for the Fight against Tuberculosis, AIDS and Malaria.
The new warehouse in Abidjan will allow for significantly increased pharmaceutical compliant storage capacity, and will help streamline the provision of HIV/AIDS-related and other health products. The number of people on antiretroviral therapy is increasing rapidly, which means an increased requirement for drugs and supplies for screening volume, clinical laboratory testing and support. Storage, therefore, needs to be increased at a national level, and this warehouse will allow the NPSP to better organise its storage system and distribution to ensure continuous availability of essential medicines.
A unique solution to African challenges
At the ground-breaking ceremony, His Excellency Terence McCulley, Ambassador of the United States of America in Côte d’Ivoire, said that this effort is evidence of the confidence that partners have in the NPSP in its role as a pillar in the distribution system of medicines and health products in Côte d'Ivoire.
“Many African countries struggle with supply chain infrastructure, and warehousing in particular,” says Haigh. “Existing warehouses are not effective, with shortcomings in racking and cooling systems in particular. Warehouse-in-a-Box brings a unique solution to countries that need support in their healthcare initiatives, helping overcome infrastructure challenges and improving supply chains.”
The design enables the rapid commission and installation of a pharmaceutical-grade and compliant prefabricated warehouse with all the componentry required to deliver a total solution, packed and ready for delivery in 40 ft containers. It addresses the lack of supply chain infrastructure, limited storage space and lack of quality storage facilities. Suitable for both urban and rural settings, the standards and operational benchmarks are aligned with international supply chain principles.
“Along with economic growth in Africa comes increased pressure on supply chain infrastructure, creating challenging business conditions and difficulty in matching supply with demand,” concludes Haigh. “If we want to execute supply chain design effectively in Africa, we need creative and flexible solutions.”