@Risk

A recent survey from the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in the UK (CILT) shows that in 2009, 68% of major logistics and supply chain operations have specific plans in place for dealing with the possibility of a flu pandemic as part of their overall disaster recovery strategy—that’s up from  43% in last year’s survey.

Of those companies with specific flu plans, almost two-thirds (63%) include counter measures, such as face masks, gloves and anti-viral medications, in addition to the use of schedule changes, overtime, agency staff, and other arrangements.

After all, as Steve Agg, Chief Executive of CILT said, when it comes to the flu, “Crossing fingers and hoping for the best is not a viable operational strategy.”

Now, though, some companies that took extraordinary precautions are coming under fire from critics. (more…)

Recent headlines about shortages of H1N1 vaccines underscore the unique challenges and risks that are embedded in the medical products supply chain.

For example, the globalization of manufacturing and supply of medical products has created an array of significant safety and security concerns –issues that need attention from the industry, from governing organizations like the FDA, and from the international health care community as a whole.

Yesterday, PharmTech.com published an excellent discussion about these and other pharma supply chain threats.

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Yesterday, business leaders were reminded once again that they need to prepare for a widespread outbreak of the H1N1 flu.

Gary S. Lynch, managing director, global leader of Marsh Risk Consulting, Supply Chain Risk Management, spoke at a luncheon of the Association of Professional Insurance Women in New York and said that he believes most U.S. companies remain unprepared to realistically deal with a flu outbreak.
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Are companies today eliminating wellness programs in hopes of cutting costs?

That’s a good question, considering the current health care debate, apprehensions about employee absenteeism during the upcoming flu season, and the general push these days to improve risk management strategies.

Interestingly, preliminary results from a new survey of more than 400 employers indicate that less than 5% are planning to reduce or eliminate health and productivity programs, despite the downturn in the economy.

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Most businesses in the U.S. are unprepared for widespread employee absenteeism in the event of a swine flu outbreak, according to a Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) study released yesterday.

The Harvard Opinion Research Program at HSPH polled more than 1,000 companies from July 16 through August 12, 2009. The researchers found that only one-third of respondents believe they could sustain their business without severe operational problems if half their workforce were absent for two weeks due to H1N1.

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