OPPI'S Initiative Results in Improving Cold Chain Facilities at Major Airports
January 29, 2009, IndiaPRwire.com


Drugs are complex entities and many of those are temperature sensitive in nature. This entails them requiring precise and continuous temperature conditions in transit in order to retain their potency and resultant efficacy. Life saving drugs and products like vaccines are very sensitive to proper cold chain. Any slippage in cold chain can lead to immediate denaturing or deterioration in quality of the product. It is imperative that a careful consideration is given by the authorities while providing storage space at the airport warehouses before drugs find their way into the distribution channels run and controlled by the Drug companies. With a view to take the initiative to improve the Cold Chain Management at Mumbai and New Delhi airports, OPPI has taken up this cause with major stakeholders, particularly, Mumbai International Airport Pvt. Ltd. (MIAL) and Delhi International Airports Ltd. (DIAL), where 80-90% of the export & import trade of pharmaceuticals take place. OPPI delegation met with the Senior Officials of GVK in Mumbai and GMR in Delhi, who are the custodians of the respective airports. To bring in learnings in this area, OPPI organized a seminar with support from MIAL on, “Cold Chain Management of Pharmaceutical Products” at Sahar Air Cargo Complex, Mumbai, for various stakeholders, including porters and supervisors. This was followed by a visit of Supervisors and Managers to Roche Distribution Centre, Mumbai.
OPPI plans to make this an ongoing exercise to partner continually with Port authorities and also provide training to the handling staff to ensure proper compliance. The coming months will see a major boost in cold room infrastructure and better facilities at the Mumbai & Delhi airport due to the initiatives taken by OPPI.