Healthcare Distribution Association UK
The British Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers (BAPW) has rebranded itself the Healthcare Distribution Association UK to reflect the evolving nature of the healthcare supply chain and the services provided by its members.
The organisation decided that change was needed because its members, which distribute over 92% of NHS medicines, no longer provide only medicines wholesaling services to community pharmacies, hospitals and dispensing doctors – they now provide more comprehensive healthcare services including medicines supply direct to patients’ homes.
The relaunch took place at a parliamentary reception, hosted by MP Sir Kevin Barron, chair of the All Party Pharmacy Group, and was attended by pharmaceutical industry representatives, and regulator and government officials.
The organisation, which can trace its history back to the 19th century, has gone through several iterations, becoming the BAPW in 1991. Steve Anderson, BAPW chair and operations director at Celesio Group (UK), told guests at the reception that the pressure to provide ever higher quality at lower costs plus patient expectations for healthcare to be delivered at a time and place that is convenient to them was driving innovation and change, a shift away from the traditional wholesale model and a consolidation of our industry.
“As this change continues, the BAPW must of course change,” he explained. “Our new association the HDA wants to reflect these changes as wholesalers and distributors are becoming much more integrated healthcare service providers, and the strong growth in homecare also needs to be recognised by the association.”
