The success of the pharma sector is critically dependent on the smooth and efficient functioning of its supply chain. The Pharma Leaders Connect program organized by APAC News Network in conjunction with Schneider Electric recently in Mumbai included a panel discussion making the pharma industry sustainable by realizing clean operations and energy efficient supply chains.
The panelists included Prasad Deshpande, SVP & Head of Global Procurement and Supply Chain, Biocon, Aniruddh Galgali, Director – Strategy Europe and Emerging Markets, Cipla, Masood Sheikh, VP – Distribution & Marketing Services, Alembic Pharma, Vikram Srivastava, Head of Planning, Global Supply Chain, Sun Pharma, Chintan Ghia, Head of Supply Chain, Universal Nutrisciences and Ravindra Pandeji, Regional Sales Head—West, Schneider Electric. These tech stalwarts from the pharma sector focused on the key challenges faced by the industry in making supply chains more sustainable.
Some of the conclusions included that ESG is no more optional but now mandatory for every organization, in most countries it would not be a choice anymore and it could give every business the early bird benefit in this aspect.
“While sustainability in life sciences started as a vogue, now it has become a business imperative,” asserted Prasad Deshpande. “The ESG report is now embedded into our business model, “ added Prasad as he narrated the anecdote of a French hospital chain with whom Biocon was bidding for business. The chain first insisted on Biocon filling up a questionnaire on where they stand on environmental sustainability in governance and only after that they would proceed to negotiate about business terms.
Masood Sheikh highlighted that even as the pharma industry goes for digitization, they are missing end-to-end visibility. “Until and unless, we have a proper visibility end-to-end right from manufacturing to selling, we will not be able to achieve our sustainability goals,” he asserted. He also insisted on a clean operation in both the primary and secondary market involving all stakeholders including customers, stockists, distributors, CFAs as otherwise disruptions and wastage will be inevitable.
Vikram Srivastav echoed Prasad Deshpande that sustainability is no more a vogue but organizations like Sun Pharma has already embarked on it albeit without any benchmark data to monitor and measure progress. “In this scenario, you need to self benchmark and start measuring yourself,” he explained. “ Two or three devades back, there were no benchmark reports in terms of procurement too. As data started getting generated, we started understanding who is sourcing what and similarly we have to make a start on sustainability too,” he added.
Aniruddh Galgali focused on the tremendous competitive advantages to be gained by pharma companies by adopting sustainability measures. “ Whether I optimize my investment or maximize my revenue or the costs going ahead, I would look at having ESG first in most models,” he informed. There might be a slight premium on products which are compliant and pushed by sustainability regulations but even consumer-centric behavior has evolved to adjust accordingly, he believes.
