DHL launches state-of-the-art Asia healthcare and life sciences hub

DHL Exel Supply Chain celebrated the official launch of its Asia Healthcare Hub on Friday May 26with a gathering of customers and senior executives from across the region. “DHL Exel Supply Chain’s

The new Singapore center, operated and managed by trained pharmacists and healthcareprofessionals, is designed specifically to meet the challenging and evolving supply chain needs ofleading life sciences and pharmaceutical companies as they expand throughout the region. “The newAsia Healthcare and Life Sciences Hub’s key focus is to deliver industry-specific end-to-end supplychain management solutions, supported by leading edge IT solutions, to companies in thepharmaceuticals, hospital and medical equipments sectors,” added David Ward, Vice President,Healthcare, Asia Pacific for DHL Exel Supply Chain.

Key services offered in the new 30,000 square foot facility near Changi Airport include thehandling and support of regional clinical trials, cold-chain management, hospital logistics,temperature controlled storage, customized packaging and repackaging services, warehousing, anddangerous goods storage – including cytotoxic materials, all licenced and regulated by theSingapore Health Sciences Authority.

“In Asia, the healthcare industry is growing at an accelerating pace to support an agingpopulation base,” added Mr. Florez. “With increasing public demands for high quality drugs andmedical services, healthcare and life sciences companies are facing new challenges – particularlyin the logistics and supply chain management sectors – with very different market landscapes acrossthe region. Working with a proven supply chain partner, Like DHL Exel Supply Chain, that bothunderstands those market dynamics and truly knows the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry isparamount to many companies’ success.”

The recently opened healthcare hub boasts a number of unique features that enables it to meetthe extremely demanding needs of the world’s leading pharmaceutical and life sciences companies.The packaging chamber contained within the facility is the first in Singapore to obtain a cytotoxicoperational license from the Health Sciences Authority. Secondary packaging for cytotoxic materialsis done in a specially built room, where air can circulate in but not out, preventing contaminationto the environment in the event of an emergency. The hub is further protected by other safeguardsincluding separate storage and staging areas, special facilities for toxic cleansing, an emergencyalarm and exit in case of contamination, and a specially trained cleaning crew on round-the-clockstandby.

In addition to the highly sensitive cytotoxic handling facilities, the healthcare hub alsoboasts a Clinical Trials department designed specifically for handling and repackaging clinicaltrials; specially designed cold room and cold chain management solutions, including chiller roomsand freezer units with temperatures set between 2°C and 8°C as well as between -10°C and -22°Crespectively, guaranteeing optimal storage conditions; all supported by fully integrated ITsolutions and DHL’s unparalleled global logistics network.

DHL Exel Supply Chain’s Asia Healthcare and Life Sciences Hub began operational services inApril 2006 and is already in the process of planning for the further expansion of its Changifacilities to meet the increasing supply chain demands of its growing customer base.