PHSC 459: Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Risk Management

Description

COURSE OVERVIEW

Within the context of an environment in which natural and man-made catastrophes seem to be increasingly common, the issue of pharmaceutical supply chain risk has forced itself onto the corporate agenda of many organisations. Disasters such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Japanese tsunami and the Thai floods not only wreaked havoc on regional supply chains but also had far-reaching consequences for manufacturers and retailers many thousands of miles away in Africa, Europe and North America. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted global health product supply chains, affecting key pharmaceutical materials and ingredients, finished health products, logistics, shipping and more. Government interventions, such as lockdowns and social distancing, have led to disruptions in the pharmaceutical supply chain. A modelling study by Roberton et al., shows that low-and-middle-income countries, particularly in Africa, were particularly vulnerable to the indirect effects of the pandemic on supply chains (Roberton et al., 2020). The increasingly interdependent and interconnected global economy has left countries vulnerable to external shocks.

A deliberate effort is required to develop the tools and insights required to effectively manage the risks while improving the resilience level of an organisation’s supply chains.

COURSE OBJECTIVE(S)

On successful completion of this course, students are expected to have enhanced skills in:

1. Compare and contrast pharmaceutical supply chain risks in relation to other related supply chain concepts: disruptions, uncertainty, turbulence, and vulnerability.
2. Appreciate and apply relevant theories underlying pharmaceutical supply chain risk management.
3. Identify, measure, classify, and analyze forms and sources of pharmaceutical supply chain risks. 
4. Modelling pharmaceutical supply chain risks.
5. Develop risk avoidance, mitigation, and contingency plans.
6. Apply risk avoidance and mitigation strategies to enhance pharmaceutical supply chain resilience, robustness, and viability. 
7. Appreciate emerging risk management frameworks for success.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

On completion of the Introduction to Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Management course the students should be able to:

1. Understanding the major risks in pharmaceutical supply chains.
2. Appreciate the sources of risks in pharmaceutical supply chains.
3. Comprehend and execute supply chain risk analysis and management process.
4. Understand pharmaceutical supply chain risk consequences and develop a mitigation plan.
5. Comprehend pharmaceutical supply chain risk control processes and how to build resilience.