5 trends to navigate in the healthcare supply chain

The healthcare supply chain has always been complex. As more trends enter the fold, healthcare providers must address new challenges. The key is to find ways to merge traditional processes with modern needs to meet these challenges head-on. This checklist highlights what's top of mind in the healthcare supply chain and how to balance the old with the new. 

01 APIs are becoming more popular

With a growing demand for interoperability among healthcare organizations, APIs have become a significant part of the healthcare supply chain conversation. In an industry where timely and accurate exchanges impact patient outcomes, APIs are a powerful tol to enable efficient communication and collaboration. 

While embracing APIs, healthcare organizations must be careful not to recreate issues that electronic data interchange (EDI) has previously solved.

Without well-defined standards, APIs are prone to security vulnerabilities and data inconsistencies that hurt system performance. Organizations need to adapt to how people want to work while holding onto the disciplines of EDI.

02 Security measures need to be more responsive

In a survey of over 600 healthcare IT and IT security professionals, 62 percent of individuals reported that their organization experienced a supply chain attack in the past two years.¹ Moreover, 88 percent of organizations faced an average of 40 annual attacks. 

Understanding bad actors won't back down, healthcare organizations must accelerate their lifecycle to identify and patch security vulnerabilities. It's essential to have a robust plan in place to test and release these updates into the organization's production environment so that updates don't disrupt existing workflows.

03 Regulations are changing system and process dynamics

The Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) has proven to be a decisive step forward in keeping the prescription drug supply chain secure. To ensure DSCSA compliance, healthcare organizations must use standardized methods to exchange data to they can meet the need for transparency and efficiency. 

To comply with these standards, organizations implemented numerous changes to their systems and processes to maintain compliance. These changes include advanced tracking technologies to be able to trace products as well as comprehensive reporting capabilities to be able to sare information with regulatory bodies and stakeholders.

04 Healthcare organizations need a clean audit bill

While maintaining DSCSA compliance has costs, the cost of noncompliance is greater. It could lead to thousands of dollars in fines, the suspension or revocation of an organization's license, and even civil penalties. 

To demonstrate compliance, healthcare organizations need to adhere to strict audit procedures. When the fiscal year comes to a close, it's critical that organizations showcase a clean bill of health, demonstrating that all their supply chain transactions and activities are well-documented and issue free. 

This requires proper preparation and continuous monitoring throughout the year.

05 The residual effects of COVID-19 are still felt

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical vulnerabilities in the healthcare supply chain. Seeing this fragility has compelled organizations to enhance their supply chain resilience, with 75 percent of providers flagging mitigating supply chain risk as their top priority.²

The pandemic underscored the need for reliable EDI systems and advanced security measures to facilitate efficient, error-free B2B communications. That way, healthcare providers can maintain the flow of critical medications and supplies in the face of future disruptions. 

See how one pharmaceutical solutions provider is navigating supply chain complexities with Axway.

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