Quality Perspective of ‘Good Distribution Practices’ in Indian Pharmaceutical Industry

The operation of Supply Chain of Management (SCM) is predominantly perceived from commercial facet of a business. Pharmaceutical products affect the health of the user hence it is obligatory to produce and deliver the products of predetermined quality standards. This can only be achieved by designing quality centric procedures and pursue them at each stage during distribution process. Quality is considered as the most sensitive aspect of pharmaceutical business during manufacturing as well as distribution. Quality of medicinal products is concurrent to its objective of curing the patients. Many drug regulatory agencies have issued guidance ‘Good distribution practices (GDP)’for pharmaceutical manufactures. The Good Distribution Practices (GDP) is considered an essential basis of pharmaceutical SCM to ensure systematic distribution of medicinal products. Due to lack of proper understanding and commitment, product quality issues are noticed by manufacturer’s quality assurance department. Since most of the quality aspects of pharmaceutical products are not known to the common patients, the survey to characterise them with help of quality professionals has been found useful. This research study finds that there is an enhanced need of control over the supply chain management operations to align its procedure and practices with quality objectives of pharmaceutical ‘Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)’.