New freight service to rapidly deliver medical goods to UK
The International Express Freight Service has launched to deliver products to the UK rapidly when a supplier’s own logistical arrangements are disrupted.
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New international service will transport medicines and medical products in days if needed
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Move will help ensure patients can continue to access the treatments they need
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Medicines will be fast-tracked to UK to provide an uninterrupted supply using the quickest services available
Medicines and medical goods which are at risk of shortage will be transported to the UK within days through a new international transport system, the government has announced.
The International Express Freight Service (IEFS) has launched to deliver products to the UK rapidly when a supplier’s own logistical arrangements are disrupted, to ensure patients can continue to access the treatments they need.
This will help support supply chain resilience in the UK and mitigate potential shortages.
The service will aim to collect and deliver small parcels within 24 to 48 hours and pallets or shipments within 2 to 4 working days, with specialised products with a controlled or regulated handling requirement fast-tracked within 24 hours.
Health Minister Edward Argar said:
Our absolute priority is to help ensure NHS patients can always access the treatments they need without delay.
Global supply chains are unpredictable and our new International Express Freight Service will rapidly transport medical products in shortage to the UK within days.
We are committed to building back stronger from the pandemic, and more resilient supply chains are a crucial part of that.
The International Express Freight Service is part of the Department of Health and Social Care’s National Supply Disruption Response (NSDR) Centre to help ensure the continuity of medicines and medical supplies in the event a supplier’s own logistical arrangements are disrupted.
Following an open procurement process, Kuehne+Nagel International will operate the new service for the UK government.
Stuart Innes, Air Logistics Director for UK for Kuehne+Nagel International, said:
Kuehne+Nagel are committed to ensuring the UK public continue to receive the treatment they need, when they need it most.
We are immensely proud to be providing the logistical support behind the International Express Freight Service for the Department of Health and Social Care, applying our expertise, capabilities and robust global network to transport critical medical supplies.
Background
Following conclusion of the first contract, this new global service contract was procured through open procedure under Public Contract Regulations 2015.
Suppliers are required to be registered before they can access the service. This is done through the mix-move online portal, accessible through the following links:
The IEFS is designed for the transportation of medicines, medical products and items that support the delivery of health and social care in the UK.
Suppliers are responsible for payment of carriage and any additional services agreed in conjunction with product movements under each of the IEFS solutions (parcel, pallets and specials) when used.
The International Express Freight Service is a contingency measure to provide authorised suppliers with an emergency capability to help maintain the uninterrupted supply of medicines and medical products where there is an urgent need or where a supplier’s own logistic arrangements are disrupted.