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Drug Distributors Mitigate Coronavirus

 
• By Ben Comer

For most patients, drug distributors – companies that provide, control and manage drug supplies – operate as an unseen but critical link in the supply chain. In the context of a global pandemic, however, drug distributors play an even bigger role in helping to ensure that pharmacies, health systems and ultimately patients have access to essential medicines.

Covid19_Stamp_WorldMap
• Source: Shutterstock

First, the good news. Major drug shortages of essential medicines for chronic diseases so far have been avoided, despite a global coronavirus pandemic infecting over 1.4 million people and causing over 80,000 deaths as of 7 April, 2020 .

To date, heart medications have been available, patients with diabetes have not faced insulin shortages and cancer patients, with some...

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