Hellmann India’s unique Healthcare Logistics solutions and capabilities that had already been in place before Covid-19 have proven its resilience and efficiency in times of the pandemic.

India is the largest provider of generic drugs globally. Indian pharmaceutical sector industry supplies over 50% of global demand for various vaccines and generic drugs. Hellmann India has strong relationships with some of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the region and demonstrated its competence and flexibility once again during this Covid-19 pandemic disruption.

Late March 2020 when India went into nationwide lock-down resulting in a suspension of all international passenger flights to and from India, the wide-body aircraft capacity from/to India was reduced by 80%, and air freight rates surged accordingly.  

Understanding the healthcare customers’ specific quality requirements and priority in midst of the unprecedented crisis, based on risk management, Hellmann India proactively engaged with air charter operators to lock in 4-week capacity and successfully operated 8 charter flights with a volume of more than 600 metric tons to carry various healthcare products including medical equipment and other critical cargo ensuring meeting demands of our customers and to keep their supply chain moving. The charter flights operated to various European and USA routes from Mumbai & Chennai as well as to bring critical products from Singapore to Chennai.

Hellmann India has mobilized its resources in extraordinary ways to bring all its expertise, and highly specialized capabilities for temperature-controlled Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) at +15c to +25c degrees to serve urgent needs as a cost-effective solution in comparison to prevailing market rates with limited capacity.

Apart from ensuring smooth documentation and custom clearance activities, Hellmann India operations team assured to secure relevant permissions from local state authorities & inter-zones police permits for on-time transportation of goods ex-works to cargo terminal making sure to mitigate all the risks and challenges involved locally.

“Our frontline operation team has done a commendable job during the first phase of the complete lock-down period in Mumbai, taking all the necessary precautions and safety measures complying with strict guidelines as issued by Government of India in the prevention of Covid-19.“ says Jayesh Kamtekar, General Manager Air Freight Export-West Region, Hellmann India.

In addition to healthcare GDP compliance measures, the charter operations were handled adhering to all safety protocols laid down by DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) and the guidelines from MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs).

“Hellmann India has demonstrated a strong Business Continuity Plan (BCP) model and how an innovative and flexible mid-size global logistics provider like Hellmann could operate under a new normal, achieving highest levels of customer satisfaction."

“Hellmann India has demonstrated a strong Business Continuity Plan (BCP) model and how an innovative and flexible mid-size global logistics provider like Hellmann could operate under a new normal, achieving highest levels of customer satisfaction, while other traditional providers have struggled,” says Ajay Rohira, Director Strategic Sales MESA Region and Head of Healthcare India.  

For more information on what Hellmann India can do for your healthcare supply chain, feel free to contact us at ajay.rohira@hellmann.com or your local representative at Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.