Security and Efficiency in Pharmaceutical Supply Chain

The Case of the Great East Japan Earthquake

Abstract

 This research illustrates the mechanism that causes mismatch between demand and supply, and examines emergency supply chain of pharmaceuticals from perspectives of both security and efficiency. Each pharmaceutical wholesaler needs to ensure the security of pharmaceutical supply chain. However, concrete measures depend on the judgement of managers of each wholesaler. The reason is that there is trade-off between ensuring security and pursuit of efficiency. In addition, each wholesaler needs to restructure the existing routine pharmaceutical supply chain in accordance with reconsideration of the current medical system.