Report: Pharmaceutical Sales Through Healthcare Distributors Increased In 2009

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 27 Sep 2010 - 2:00 PDT


A report published by the Center for Healthcare Supply Chain Research, the research foundation of the Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA), indicates that pharmaceutical sales through primary healthcare distributors increased to nearly $263 billion in 2009, accounting for nearly 86 percent of sales in the channel. This trend - along with nearly 170 other measures relating to the healthcare distribution industry - is included in the2010-2011 HDMA Factbook: The Facts, Figures & Trends in Healthcare. Now in its 82nd edition, the Factbook provides a comprehensive picture of the healthcare distribution industry, reporting in the areas of operations, finance, distributor demographics, information systems, delivery and returns and more.

According to the new Factbook, a typical HDMA member distribution center handled a daily average of 1,710 orders in 2009, delivering more than 91,000 products each day to pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities and other outlets nationwide, while keeping net profit margins at an average of 1 percent.

"This year's Factbook provides the most comprehensive review of pharmaceutical distribution to date," said Karen Ribler, Executive Vice President and COO of the Center for Healthcare Supply Chain Research. "It features a wealth of usable metrics and is an essential tool for supply chain executives looking to measure their own performance, analysts seeking to understand the complexities of the supply chain and others who wish to learn how pharmaceuticals are distributed in the healthcare industry."

"The HDMA Factbook sheds light on the tremendous efficiency involved in moving millions of medicines and healthcare products across the supply chain," said HDMA President and CEO John M. Gray. "Such efficiency would not be possible without HDMA distributor members, who continue to safely deliver lifesaving products to the right patient at the right time, while saving the healthcare system billions of dollars in the process."

The 2010-2011 HDMA Factbook: The Facts, Figures & Trends in Healthcare is now available for purchase. Visit the website of the Center for Healthcare Supply Chain Research for more information.

Source:
Center for Healthcare Supply Chain Research
HDMA

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