Oriola starts to warehouse national pharmaceutical stock for the Swedish regions

In Sweden, the covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance to secure supply for medicines especially for the healthcare’s needs. As there is no corresponding system of obligatory stock of critical medicines as in Finland, Oriola together with other wholesalers and the Swedish regions have agreed on a new collaboration to build a national stock of certain pharmaceuticals.

Shortages of medicines have increased in recent years and the covid-19 pandemic has further raised the need to have a secure supply of medicines. In Sweden, the effect of shortages is seen more quickly in the healthcare as in Finland, where national obligatory stock secures three-months of supply of critical medicines.

Oriola has signed an agreement to store medicines in the national stock for the Swedish regions. The agreement has been signed with the Stockholm region, Västra Götaland, Skåne and Östergötland, but it covers all regions' access to medicines. Oriola has already before analyzed risks for shortages of certain critical pharmaceuticals, but now our efforts are expanded to stocking selected medicines for the regions.

“Medicines are an essential part of healthcare and patients’ treatment. Oriola has a solid expertise in high quality and secured pharmaceutical distribution and an important role in entire medicine journey. We are very happy to contribute to an increased supply of critical medicines that the regions need for well-functioning healthcare,” says Fredrik Pamp, Vice President of Business Area Pharma at Oriola.

The agreement is valid until 31 December 2020 with the possibility of being extended by up to nine months. According to the agreement, the regions purchase the medicines and own the stock, but Oriola provides storage and distribution services. The number of medicines in the national stock can be expanded or reduced if necessary.

For more information:

Fredrik Pamp, Vice President, Business Area Pharma, Oriola, tel. +46 70 677 87 23

Tuula Lehto, VP, Communications and Sustainability, Oriola, tel. + 358 40 5885 343  

Oriola is a health and wellbeing company operating in the Nordic countries. We help people to lead healthier lives by giving them access to sustainable health and wellbeing products and services. In Sweden, Oriola owns the country’s third-largest pharmacy chain, Kronans Apotek. In addition to pharmacies, our dose-dispensing, medical information and patient support services enhance the safety and effectiveness of pharmaceutical care. Our expert services support pharmaceutical companies throughout the entire lifecycle of medicines. Oriola’s supply chain ensures reliable and safe delivery of pharmaceuticals to pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, veterinarians and other healthcare operators. In 2019, Oriola Corporation’s net sales were 1.7 billion euros and we employed nearly 4,300 professionals. Oriola Corporation is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. www.oriola.com