MANUFACTURER’S DOOR TO THE HOSPITAL FLOOR – ACING LAST-MILE DELIVERY IN HOSPITAL SUPPLY CHAIN.
Putting together a hospital is a huge undertaking. In the hospital supply chain industry, maintaining last-mile distribution necessitates a great deal of attention to detail, preparation, taking the requisite precautions, and adhering to protocols. In collaboration with an industry medical equipment partner, Uniworld Logistics offered logistic options to establish a multi-speciality hospital in Kenya.
The healthcare setting in central Africa is undergoing a seismic shift. Policymakers and Governments understand the importance of boosting their ability to provide world-class hospital facilities to the population.
Uniworld, in late 2020 devised a specific hospital supply-chain model to support the set up of a multi-speciality hospital in Kenya’s capital Nairobi. Touted to be the first of its kind in the country, the hospital will provide patients with the best and latest medical care and technology.
The scope of the project entailed supplier to hospital site delivery. Uniworld consolidated the equipment from over 60 suppliers globally, namely Japan, Korea, China, Malaysia, India, Turkey, France, Germany, Italy, Ukraine, and the United States.
Mr Joshua Prem, Director Strategy at Uniworld oversaw the exercise and monitored all the critical areas – right from collection, consolidation, movement, customs clearance to on-site delivery, thereby ensuring that the project was a success.
We covered all facets of setting up a hospital, including transportation of standard surgical supplies, lab equipment, lab research units, hospital operating theatre units, hospital beds, lounge settings, and so on. Wide units, such as CT and MRI machines, operating rooms, and mammogram machines, were transported as well. Lab-reagents and testing kits were transferred under temperature-controlled settings.
There were two delivery channels.
- Via Sea ( From Manufacture to Mombasa port to ICG Nairobi to Hospital Site) Via Air (From Manufacturer to Nairobi airport to Hospital Site)
On reaching the hospital site, all the items were then taken out of their boxes, disassembled, and transported to the designated hospital floor for installation.
The most significant difficulty we encountered was due to the timing. Owing to the pandemic, finding the right supplies, shipping routes, transportation suppliers, and even aircraft space was complicated.
The transport of the CT machine and the MRI machine’s magnet, as well as its cooling mechanism, was our greatest accomplishment. CT scanners use highly sensitive X-rays, necessitating extra stuffing. On the other hand, the MRI Magnet was the most critical device and had to be shipped in 16 hours.
“The safe transport of the MRI magnet and cooling systems was, in my opinion, the mission’s highlight. We were practically running out of time. We only had 16 hours to get the unit and all of its parts from the door to the floor. Still, thanks to everyone’s contributions, we were determined to make it. In a record amount of time! It was a nail-biting experience, but it was well worth it in the end!!
Joshua Prem, Director, Uniworld Logistics
| RACE AGAINST TIME- Istanbul to Nairobi in under 16 hours To ensure optimal functioning and accurate imaging, the MRI device’s magnet must be kept live and held at an ultra-low temperature of 4 Kelvin, or -270°C. Liquid helium is added to a cryocooler, a specialised compressor system to do this. Considering the limited services and constrained travel routes, planning the delivery within a 16-hour window was extremely tough. From Istanbul, Turkey, to Nairobi, Kenya, the unit was shipped as a single unit in a freighter. The machine was not tilted in any way. At Istanbul airport, we obtained special permission to refuel the device with helium. Prior clearances were retrieved to clear the unit and discharge it as soon as it arrived in Nairobi. It was immediately transported to the hospital, where the cryogenic device was mounted, allowing the MRI system and magnet to be assembled. |
“The project’s progress can be due to several reasons. Our in-house team’s unwavering commitment provided the catalyst. Our network of service providers’ resiliency, years of supply-chain experience, deep ties we’ve forged within the airline and shipping industries, and our existing offices in China, Korea, and Malaysia all contributed to making this a success.”
Mr Premkumar, Chairman, Uniworld Logistics.
About us.
Uniworld operates a wide range of logistics and shipping options for overseas exports of surgical equipment, medical components, and other medical items. Uniworld has been assisting medical manufacturers with logistical solutions for several years. When shipping medical items, our organisation attaches importance to cargo protection during shipment and strictly adheres to GPP, Good Distribution Practice, international legal norms, and applicable domestic rules.