New Cold Chain Solution from Aramex
Biocare, a new cold supply chain service from Aramex, is now available in key Aramex markets. By providing a temperature controlled delivery solution it enables laboratories, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies, to move clinical specimens and medical samples domestically and globally. Temperature sensitive clinical specimens or medical samples are placed in special boxes that maintain their temperature for up to 72 hours. The temperature inside the box is monitored during the entire supply chain, from pickup to delivery.
The new solution from Aramex provides a start to finish complete cold supply chain solution. This includes handling clearance processes and documentations required to enable the Biocare boxes to move swiftly through customs, so that both temperature and delivery time can be guaranteed.
Biocare was launched as a pilot service in Middle East before being introduced Asia and Africa. The service will be rolled out to more markets over the next twelve months.
Sami Hammoudeh, Global Director of Customer Relationship Management at Aramex, said: “Aramex identified a need in the market, as the healthcare industry wanted an end-to-end solution for moving clinical specimens and medical samples to different destinations. We developed the Biocare solution after interviewing customers and understanding their exact needs. To give you an example, we learnt that without an end-to-end solution to maintain temperatures, clinical specimens and medical samples were getting damaged. A blood sample that is transported incorrectly can cause haemolysis, i.e., breaking of red blood cells, which in turn lead to additional costs for extracting the blood sample and shipping it again. A major benefit for the healthcare industry is the added value that Biocare brings – it is not only a very cost effective solution but also a specialized service designed with our customer in mind.”
Biocare caters for both infectious and non-infectious samples and moving these using a Biocare solution will provide shippers with a durable transportation, packed per IATA regulations and will be delivered within 72 hours (or less depending on the destination required). The Biocare solution enables samples to be delivered across continents within the three day timeline, rather than just within Middle East.
Hammoudeh added: “This is Aramex’s first foray into cold chain solutions on an international scale. Previously, we offered these services on a local level in a much more limited capacity. The launch of Biocare is very timely in light of projection for the health market globally; in the GCC alone it is expected to reach $43.9 billion by 2015, alongside projections for the Middle East’s population to reach 520 million by 2030, both of which will create increased demand for services like Biocare.”
