Collaborative Research Project Receives €500K Grant to Strengthen Dutch Pharmaceutical Supply Chain for Pandemic Preparedness

The Operations Research & Logistics (ORL) group, in partnership with Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam has been awarded a €500,000 grant by ZonMW to model the Dutch pharmaceutical supply chain (PSC) in preparation for future pandemics. The project was selected as part of the ZonMW call, "Modeling for Pandemic Preparedness."

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical vulnerabilities in the Dutch PSC, leading to life-threatening shortages of essential medicines. These shortages were heavily influenced by complex factors such as regulations, pricing strategies, and supply chain organization. In response, this project aims to reinforce the resilience of the Dutch PSC and reduce the risk of pharmaceutical shortages during future pandemics.

Key objectives of the project include:

1. Stress Testing the Dutch Pharmaceutical Supply Chain

Through advanced modeling and evaluation of supply chain scenarios, this effort seeks to identify key levers that can enhance the resilience of the national PSC.

2. Optimizing Policies for Medicine Shortages

The project will focus on developing policies for equitable prioritization of pharmaceutical stocks, especially those that remain scarce after alternatives are considered, to ensure fair distribution during shortages.

3. Accurately Predicting Demand and Medicine Shortages

Researchers will analyze and predict pharmaceutical demand and shortages, with a focus on understanding the impact of controllable factors on demand variability and product availability.

This initiative is supported by a diverse array of partners across the pharmaceutical supply chain, including wholesalers, pharmacies, end-users, and industry organizations. By collaborating with these key stakeholders, the project aims to create a more resilient and responsive PSC that can better withstand the pressures of future pandemics.