The Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) is developing an online logistics platform aimed at centralising services and improving transparency in pharmaceutical supply chains. The move is expected to address long-standing challenges caused by fragmented operations and opaque practices in the sector.
According to industry sources, the platform will feature integrated compliance management, competitive bidding for logistics services, booking of value-added offerings such as warehousing and insurance, route optimisation, digital document exchange, real-time shipment tracking, and feedback mechanisms to enhance service quality.
The initiative comes against the backdrop of the launch of the National Accreditation Body for Cold Chain Management (NAB-CCM) earlier this year, which seeks to promote ethical practices, regulatory compliance and professional training in pharmaceutical cold chain logistics.
At recent industry discussions, experts highlighted persistent issues such as the lack of end-to-end monitoring in cold chain supply chains, which can compromise the potency and efficacy of drugs. They stressed the growing role of artificial intelligence and predictive analytics in enabling real-time tracking and optimising temperature-sensitive shipments.
Stakeholders also underlined the need for a standardised policy framework, specialised training in life sciences and healthcare logistics, and stronger accreditation mechanisms to maintain good distribution practices (GDP). NAB-CCM is expected to bridge this gap by offering specialised training programmes and certifications for industry professionals.
With India’s cold chain sector expanding rapidly, the emphasis is shifting towards advanced warehousing solutions—including temperature-controlled facilities and real-time inventory systems—and selecting the most suitable transport modes, whether road, air or sea, to ensure safe and timely delivery of pharmaceuticals.
