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Title
Supply Chain Analysis of Pharmaceutical Drug Surplus
Description
In this paper, I analyze the pharmaceutical supply chain to identify the main causes of drug surplus. The main example I use throughout the paper is the current opioid epidemic, which has resulted in thousands of fatalities, caused by overdoses. After researching the industry players and their relationships in the supply chain, I have identified four main causes of drug surplus: the consolidation of pharmaceutical corporations with third-party manufacturers, along with consolidation within the wholesaler industry; the inappropriate pricing of opioid-based prescriptions negotiated by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs); the significant influence of pharmaceutical corporations on physicians, leading to potentially unethical practices; and lastly patients openly distributing leftover prescriptions to the market, and looking for prescriptions elsewhere. To alleviate the drug surplus issue, I provide three solutions: implement both blockchain and reverse logistics into the pharmaceutical supply chain, improving transparency, and allowing patients to return incomplete prescriptions; and research the consolidation of PBMs with providers (hospital systems, clinics, etc.) to increase buyer power and appropriately price opioid-based prescriptions.
Date Created
2018-05
Contributors
- Rutkowski, Sarah (Author)
- Helm, Jonathan (Thesis director)
- Wiedmer, Robert (Committee member)
- Department of Information Systems (Contributor)
- W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor)
- Department of Supply Chain Management (Contributor)
- Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Topical Subject
Resource Type
Extent
42 pages
Language
Copyright Statement
In Copyright
Primary Member of
Series
Academic Year 2017-2018
Handle
https://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.I.48186
Level of coding
minimal
Cataloging Standards
System Created
- 2018-04-21 12:23:23
System Modified
- 2021-08-11 04:09:57
- 2 years 9 months ago
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