Maintaining product safety and quality during distribution is of utmost importance in the healthcare industry.
With the continuous development and production of healthcare products around the world, such as pharmaceuticals and medical devices, supply has become more complex. Supply chain quality and safety have become more difficult during the life cycle of healthcare products.
To better regulate the process and, ultimately, protect consumer rights, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has the most representative and universal guidelines on healthcare product storage, transportation, distribution and trade – Good Distribution Practices (GDP) and Good Storage and Distribution Practices (GSDP).
The quality of healthcare products must be guaranteed during transportation and storage. In these situations, international healthcare product buyers have put forward higher technical management requirements for the healthcare products supply chain that cover storage, trade and distribution.
What are WHO GDP and GSDP?
GDP is a quality system for warehouses and distribution centres dedicated to medicines. GDP certification for the Healthcare industry demonstrates your dedication to good distributive practices and quality in every aspect of your service. WHO GDP and GSDP guidelines cover all aspects of healthcare products, from procurement to distribution. WHO GDP and GSDP audit services are based on the basic requirements and compare other national practices, such as the Australian Code of Good Wholesaling Practice (GWP) for Medicines in Schedules 2, 3, 4 and 8, to enable continuous improvement for our customers.Who do WHO GDP and GSDP apply to?
- Wholesalers and other parties, such as brokers, suppliers, distributors, logistics providers, traders, transport companies and forwarding agents of healthcare products with functioning storage and distribution areas, and warehouses
- Healthcare product manufacturers that own warehouses or provide distribution
- Healthcare product manufacturers that use external distribution
What are the benefit of being certified to WHO GDP and GSDP?
- Assisting identification of WHO GDP and GSDP specifications in the regulatory authorities or insufficient findings before the sponsor’s inspection
- Ensuring that healthcare products are manufactured, including relabelling, repacking, storing, distributing and handling, in compliance with WHO GDP and GSDP requirements
- Demonstrating that all parties involved in the operation and supply chain meet WHO GDP and GSDP requirements
- Increasing the management level and visibility of enterprises
- Ensuring that healthcare product quality in the supply chain is consistent so that enterprises receive greater economic benefits
- Supporting the removal of trade barriers and access to international markets
- Enhancing a product’s competitiveness and its market, including field occupancy
How can SGS help?
SGS is a globally recognised leader in certifications in the pharmaceutical sector. During the pharmaceutical GDP certification process, our highly-qualified auditors analyse your processes and policies, along with those of your supply chain partners to ensure that you consistently deliver good quality products as intended pharmaceutical, medical devices and healthcare products manufacturers.
In addition, we offer a range of training services:
- WHO Good Distribution Practice (GDP) Introduction Training Course
- Good Distribution Practices (GDP) Auditing & Inspection Skills for Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Industries Training Course
For further information please contact us on au.kn.sales@sgs.com or download our brochure
About SGS
We are SGS – the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company. We are recognised as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. Our 96,000 employees operate a network of 2,600 offices and laboratories, working together to enable a better, safer and more interconnected world.
