ROCHE DIABETES CARE JAPAN APPOINTS DHL SUPPLY CHAIN TO OPTIMIZE DISTRIBUTION OF MEDICAL DEVICES IN JAPAN

Partnership taps into DHL’s stringent quality standards in the healthcare sector; vital in helping Roche Diabetes Care Japan meet fast-growing local demand for diabetes management devices

Roche Diabetes Care Japan, of the Roche global healthcare group, has selected DHL Supply Chain to manage the partial manufacturing, logistics and distribution of its blood glucose monitoring devices to distributors and customers in multiple locations throughout Japan. 

The partnership will see DHL Supply Chain manage all inbound shipments of newly manufactured blood glucose monitoring devices arriving at its Aomi Logistics Centre at Koto-Ku Ward, Tokyo – DHL’s ISO13485-certified facility that has temperature controls as well as meets all customer and applicable regulatory requirements to handle medical devices. At this facility, medical devices will undergo quality management processes that include inspection, labelling and packaging by a certified team, before being transported to various parts of the country. 

“We are expecting the demand for our blood glucose monitoring devices to gradually rise, in line with the nation’s aging population. This poses greater logistical challenges in distributing our products,” says Bryan Koh, General Manager, Roche Diabetes Care Japan. “DHL’s experience in handling life sciences operations globally and possession of local manufacturing licenses for in-vitro diagnostics and medical devices, make it the ideal logistics partner for us, to continue delivering reliable, consistent, and efficient quality of care to the healthcare practitioners and growing number of people with diabetes nationwide.” 

“DHL is known globally for its experience in establishing the highest standards to handle pharmaceutical and medical products, which demands strict quality control in all aspects and full compliance to international regulations,” said Alfred Goh, President & Representative Director, CEO Japan and Korea, DHL Supply Chain. “In Japan, where distribution of medical devices must adhere to strict government regulations, we are providing best in class quality assurance to Roche Diabetes Care Japan, and allowing them to tap into our sizable global life sciences network, to meet emerging demand in the local in-vitro diagnostics market which is estimated to grow to over $4.3 billion in 2024.”

In anticipation of this rapid growth, DHL is continuously monitoring and improving the operations of its Aomi Logistics Centre, through the use of its unique operations management system (OMS). The system proficiently oversees every aspect of the facility’s operational cycle, from quality management processes; to climate-controlled environments; to final packaging and delivery – allowing DHL to scale and manage greater volumes of deliveries in the future, while remaining adhering fully to pharmaceutical standards and regulations.