Press Release
12 January 2009
Novo Nordisk announces details of supply chain improvement programme
Novo Nordisk is today announcingnew arrangements which will improve distribution of its medicines in the UK.
The company is selecting two national wholesalers with 100% UK coverage, UniChem Limited and Phoenix Healthcare Distribution Limited,to work as partners in a reduced wholesaler distribution model, which will become effective on 02 March 2009. There will be no change to the wholesaler status of these new partners, who will continue to manage existing discounts and delivery frequency.
Viggo Birch, Managing Director of Novo Nordisk UK says,
“Patients are our principal focus. We are committed to ensuring that people using our products have access to the medicines they need at all times – which had become increasingly challenging in 2008 - and that their medicines are genuine and legitimate and have been stored and distributed to the highest quality standards. We are determined that our improvements will not impact the NHS budget, and are excited that working more closely with our new partners will allow us to develop new initiatives to supportdiabetes management in community pharmacy settings.”
Simon O’Neill, Director of Care, Information andAdvocacy Services at Diabetes UKsays,
“Diabetes UK supports any initiative which improves the quality and delivery of insulin to people with diabetes and minimises the risk of counterfeit medicine penetrating the supply chain. We support Novo Nordisk in their quest to ensure the highest standards of care.”
Kirsty Tait, Novo Nordisk Supply Chain Manager adds,
“We believe that working in partnership with UniChemand Phoenixwill enable us todeliver the service and quality standards that pharmacies, hospitals and dispensing doctors expect, whilst maintaining a choice of supplier for customers.
We have consulted extensively with our stakeholders in deciding upon these changes, and will continue to do so in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition. We will be writing to all of our end customers to inform them of the changes, and additional support for patients and customers is available through our Customer Care Centre.
As the majority of our products are critical medicines, we will continue to operate our Urgent Order process throughout the transition, and will maintain the service under our new arrangements, although we are confident our new partnerships will eliminate the need for customers to have to resort to making an emergency order at all.”