Winner
Accord’s Agility Ensures Medicines Supply During COVID-19
with support from Alexa Forbes Consulting Ltd
Summary of work
As demand spiked, export bans came into force and borders were closed, the supply of critical medicines became a serious logistical and management challenge during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a leading supplier of medicines, a vast number of healthcare providers, intensive care units (ICU) and patients were relying on Accord to provide life-saving medicines at a time of desperate need.
Accord led the charge undertaking a programme of in-depth literature scanning and engagement with leading ICU physicians to build an understanding of the evolving clinical research base. This was translated into focused activities to ensure rapid provision of repurposed medicines both to trials and the clinical front line, winning many plaudits from health systems and workers. It facilitated the construction of a COVID-19 pharmacopeia, that was shared with the industry to ensure multiple producers were focusing their production on the medicines of greatest likely need. The Accord team developed an in-house epidemiological demand model, which was subsequently used pan-industry to quantify the likely surge in ICU medicines need.
Using this knowledge, swift decisions were taken to export raw chemicals out of Asia just hours before export bans were implemented. These early actions meant that Accord was able to meet the growing demand for critical medicines, in addition to donating millions of tablets into trials. Whilst prioritising medicines supply, internal communications increased dramatically to ensure the workforce felt not only connected but truly part of the fight, maintaining attendance and output.
Judges’ comments
Accord’s reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic and their quick thinking was extremely forward thinking. The challenges were well documented, and their plan was executed impressively, with an impressive scale-up which resulted in extra doses of medicines before export bans came into place. This pre-emptive thinking was bold and worthwhile.
