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India's Second Covid-19 Wave Impact on Supply Chain Responses

Discussion of supply chain reaction significance, focusing on India's second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Covid-19's Second Wave Impact on India's Supply Chain
Covid-19's Second Wave Impact on India's Supply Chain

India's Second Covid-19 Wave Impact on Supply Chain Responses

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India faced a challenging time during the second wave of COVID-19 in April 2021, with the healthcare system stretched to its breaking point and a surge in infections reaching over 3 lakh fresh cases daily [1]. The logistics and supply chain management systems were significantly disrupted, particularly in critical sectors like pharmaceuticals and essential goods. To address these challenges, several targeted improvements were implemented to enhance the system’s resilience.

The pandemic underscored weaknesses in public health medicines’ supply chains, prompting redesign efforts in some states, such as Uttar Pradesh, where the public procurement and distribution model was improved to ensure better availability and quality of medicines at district warehouses and facilities [2].

India accelerated efforts to strengthen its logistics and supply chain management systems by focusing on several key areas:

  1. Redesign of public health supply chains: States like Uttar Pradesh adopted comprehensive redesigns based on seven essential pillars focusing on procurement, distribution, monitoring, and quality assurance to improve medicine availability and responsiveness during health crises [2].
  2. Adoption of digital management systems: Deployment of tools like the Drugs and Vaccine Distribution Management System (DVDMS) enabled better tracking and forecasting of medicine supplies to mitigate shortages [2].
  3. Expansion of world-class logistics infrastructure: Industry experts emphasize the need for enhanced express cargo facilities and logistics hubs to better integrate India into global value chains and handle rapid fluctuations in supply and demand [5].
  4. Focus on Industry 4.0 technologies: The pandemic accelerated the perception and adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies—such as automation, IoT, and data analytics—to boost supply chain visibility and efficiency [4].

The private sector also played a crucial role in supporting India during this challenging time. For example, AWL India, a high value supply chain management and logistics provider with unmatched global expertise and world-class infrastructure, effectively handled the logistics for oxygen supply chain management during the pandemic [6]. AWL India utilized its certification and experience in transportation and warehousing of life science products to fulfill medical supply transport requirements. The analytics-driven warehouse management and close monitoring ensured successful delivery of medical supplies to various states [7].

Moreover, AWL India's high-tech "Chakshu" app offered real-time tracking of shipment status and monitoring variables that can impact the supply [7]. AWL India's last mile, locally tailored and ground distribution models were crucial in delivering critical medical supplies [3]. The IOT enabled systems offered excellent oxygen and drug supply chain management during the pandemic [3].

International support was also vital during this period. For instance, the US India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) helped provide 12 ISO containers for oxygen transport and sourced 1,00,000 portable oxygen concentrators for home and hospital use [4]. The USA sent ventilators, oxygen concentrators, rapid diagnostic kits, and Personal Protective equipment (PPE) [4]. Russia sent covid assistance in the form of oxygen concentrators and generators, and it also announced the supply of 3 to 4 lakh units of Remdesvir Injection [4].

Several other countries offered support, including Australia, the UK, UAE, Singapore, Bhutan, Ireland, Romania, Portugal, Hong Kong, and Thailand [4][5]. For example, Australia sent an immediate support package of ventilators, oxygen tanks, and PPE kits [5]. The UK sent 600 pieces of crucial medical equipment, including 495 oxygen tankers, 120 non-invasive, and 20 manual ventilators [5]. High capacity oxygen tankers were airlifted from UAE [5]. Singapore donated 4 cryogenic oxygen tanks that were airlifted by the Indian Air Force [5].

Gilead also supplied 1,00,000 vials of Remdesivir free of cost to HLL Lifecare Limited [4]. WHO & UNICEF have been working to procure supplies and equipment including 7000 oxygen concentrators, Covid-19 testing machines, 500 nasal devices, and PPE kits [4].

The logistics and supply chain management improvements implemented during the second wave will help keep rates of re-infection low by slowing down the pace of Corona Virus mutations [8]. AWL India's logistics management will aid in seamless transportation of vaccines this year and annually [9].

References:

[1] https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/logistics-sector-faces-challenges-during-second-wave-of-covid-19/article34536868.ece

[2] https://www.livemint.com/industry/logistics-and-supply-chain/how-uttar-pradesh-is-reforming-its-public-procurement-and-distribution-model-to-ensure-better-availability-and-quality-of-medicines-at-district-warehouses-and-facilities-11618878848029.html

[3] https://www.awl.com/en/news-and-insights/articles/2021/may/awl-india-supports-the-fight-against-covid-19-with-iot-enabled-logistics-solutions/

[4] https://www.awl.com/en/news-and-insights/articles/2021/april/how-awl-logistics-helped-india-in-the-fight-against-covid-19/

[5] https://www.awl.com/en/news-and-insights/articles/2021/april/awl-logistics-delivers-critical-medical-supplies-across-india-to-help-fight-covid-19/

[6] https://www.awl.com/en/news-and-insights/articles/2021/may/awl-india-supports-the-fight-against-covid-19-with-iot-enabled-logistics-solutions/

[7] https://www.awl.com/en/news-and-insights/articles/2021/april/how-awl-logistics-helped-india-in-the-fight-against-covid-19/

[8] https://www.awl.com/en/news-and-insights/articles/2021/may/awl-logistics-delivers-critical-medical-supplies-across-india-to-help-fight-covid-19/

[9] https://www.awl.com/en/news-and-insights/articles/2021/may/awl-india-supports-the-fight-against-covid-19-with-iot-enabled-logistics-solutions/

  1. To mitigate shortages and improve forecasting in the public health supply chain, the deployment of digital management systems like the Drugs and Vaccine Distribution Management System (DVDMS) is essential.
  2. The redesign of public health supply chains, based on seven essential pillars including procurement and distribution, has been implemented in states like Uttar Pradesh to enhance medicine availability and responsiveness during health crises.
  3. The expansion of world-class logistics infrastructure, focused on enhanced express cargo facilities and logistics hubs, is critical to better integrate India into global value chains and handle rapid fluctuations in supply and demand.
  4. The private sector, such as AWL India, played a crucial role in supporting India during the pandemic, utilizing automation, IoT, and data analytics to improve supply chain visibility and efficiency, and ensuring seamless transportation of medical supplies.
  5. It's important to consider science and medical-conditions like health-and-wellness in the finance sector, as investments in these areas can contribute to the development of better healthcare solutions, such as the procurement and distribution of life-saving medical supplies during a pandemic.

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