Welcome to a new blog post. Today we want to focus on how important pharmaceutical refrigerators are for preventing the loss of medications in pharmacies, healthcare facilities, and distribution centers.
Pharmaceutical waste is a fairly common problem within our healthcare system. Although there are many factors contributing to this issue, the safe storage of temperature-sensitive products—that is, the Storage of heat-sensitive medications, it remains one of the most important.
Although it can sometimes be overlooked.
The Safe storage of medications in pharmacies and hospitals is essential to reducing this waste and healthcare costs. Rising drug prices are one of the main areas of concern for a healthcare sector facing significant financial challenges.
Some figures from the pharmaceutical industry
The medications dispensed in all Spanish hospitals In 2020, it fell by 1.33 % compared to 2019, according to data recorded by the Ministry of Health. Despite this, spending on medications increased by 4.96%. However, this is not the highest growth rate for this indicator since 2017, the year in which tracking began.
The pandemic year ended with a sharp increase in both the number of containers and the cost compared to December 2019: 12,58% and 12,55%. This breaks the annual trends for both indicators.
Why is it so important to use pharmaceutical refrigerators for storing medications?
The active chemical ingredients in any medication can change their molecular structure when exposed to different temperatures. This can cause the medication to break down.
When this happens, medications become less effective and may even cause side effects or pose a danger. Therefore, temperature-sensitive medications that have been «spoiled» due to improper storage must be discarded.
Likewise, the following is very important in the veterinary sector: Cold storage of medications and vaccines.
The Case of Vaccines
Then there are the vaccines. They can lose their effectiveness if they get too hot or too cold at any time.
Vaccines naturally degrade over time. Therefore, storing them outside the recommended temperature range can accelerate the loss of their properties.
This impact cannot be reversed. Administering a vaccine that is in poor condition will prevent the desired immune response from developing. Therefore, a damaged vaccine does not provide protection.
As of April 2021, the Spanish government has spent nearly 2,000 million euros on the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines. That is a lot of money at a very delicate economic time. Therefore, waste resulting from improper storage must be avoided at all costs.
The Case of Biologics
In addition to vaccines, biologic drugs—such as insulin—and those used to treat conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, and various forms of cancer are often sensitive to extreme temperatures. In other words, if they are compromised, they can put patients at risk.
Biologics represent an innovative and rapidly expanding category of medications. It is estimated that by 2022, sales of biologics will account for approximately 30% (or $326,000 million) of global prescription drug sales.
However, maintaining the safety and efficacy of these cutting-edge therapies can present unique challenges. Patients using medications whose potency has been reduced or even destroyed by improper storage may experience clinical setbacks.
Basic Recommendations
After manufacturing, vaccines and biological products must be shipped and stored at the temperatures recommended by the manufacturers. Many of these products require temperatures below room temperature to ensure their quality and efficacy.
They are often referred to as «cold chain products» or «refrigeration lines» and have strict temperature requirements.
Failure to store medications according to the manufacturers' recommendations may invalidate the expiration date. If this occurs, manufacturers may be exempt from liability for any failure of the medication.
The safety and efficacy of heat-sensitive medications can be significantly compromised if the temperature drops below 2°C or rises above 8°C.
This can lead to avoidable waste, which results in considerable expense and can be prevented with the right preservation measures.
The Human Factor in the Storage of Medications and Vaccines
In any clinical setting where temperature-sensitive medications are stored, there must be individuals responsible for receiving and storing vaccines and heat-sensitive medications.
In addition, they must monitor and record the temperatures of pharmaceutical refrigerators and the rooms where they are located.
Most importantly, refrigerators used to store medications must be specifically designed for that purpose.
Standard household refrigerators cannot be used to store cold-chain products. There are many reasons for this, including uneven temperature distribution (resulting from minimal air circulation) and a normal operating range of 0°C to 10°C.
Medical-grade refrigerators offer much more than a standard refrigerator. First, they maintain a more consistent temperature, which is vital for storing sensitive items, such as vaccines and samples, that can be damaged by temperature fluctuations.
Pharmaceutical refrigerators are also equipped with visual and audible alarms to alert staff to any problems or malfunctions.
These alarms may sound if the door is not fully closed, or if the temperature rises or falls unexpectedly, allowing medical staff to act quickly to prevent damage and dangerous changes to the medications inside. In addition, the refrigerators can be locked, and the glass doors make it quick and easy to check inventory.
The size of a pharmacy refrigerator is important
The medical refrigerator used must also be the appropriate size for the amount of inventory to be stored; that is, it should be filled to no more than 75% of its capacity to allow for adequate air circulation.
It must also be used exclusively for the storage of vaccines and other pharmaceutical products and must not be used to store food, blood, milk, beverages, or anything else that poses a risk of contamination.
In addition, ensure that the cooling unit is located in a well-ventilated room maintained at a temperature between 10°C and 25°C, away from exterior windows and any heat sources, such as radiators or direct sunlight, and at a minimum distance of 5–10 cm from walls and other units.
To ensure its continued effectiveness, any pharmaceutical refrigerator must be inspected in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. In addition, its built-in thermometer must be calibrated separately to ensure the accuracy of the readings.
Finally, the medical refrigerator should be cleaned regularly, and the contents should be stored according to the "first-expired" principle.
The Future of the Pharmaceutical Cold Storage Industry
Industry forecasts indicated that the cold chain sector as a whole—including hospitals, health centers, laboratories, and pharmacies—would grow by nearly 40% by the end of 2020, as the volume of temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products continues to rise rapidly.
This prediction was made before the onset of COVID-19 and the introduction of vaccines. Now that vaccines are available, the effectiveness of refrigerated storage is proving to be of vital importance in preventing the loss of any doses and ensuring that the public receives a life-saving vaccine.
The global vaccination effort has become a feat of mass production involving freezers, refrigerated cabinets, and other equipment, and has put the logistical capabilities of the cold chain to the test.
Until the world reaches a level of vaccination coverage that allows us to feel safe in every country, we will have to trust that vaccines and medications continue to be stored under the best possible conditions.
Coreco MedicalLab: Our Contribution to the Preservation of Medications and Vaccines
Part of our design process for refrigerated cabinets—which will be used in laboratories, hospitals, or health care facilities—is to consider who will be using them and what they will contain.
That is why we use materials and technologies that maintain very stable temperatures—precisely to prevent the loss of medications or vaccines.
At Coreco MedicalLab, we are committed to providing consulting services to both professionals and clients. We manufacture medical refrigeration units for all types of clinical facilities, such as hospitals, medical laboratories, and pharmacies.
At this link, you can find out all the certifications and regulations that our MedicalLab line of refrigerators meet.
Contact us today for more information about our line of pharmaceutical, laboratory, and medical-grade refrigerated cabinets.
Please feel free to call us to discuss the best solutions we can offer for your needs—or those of your clients, if you are a healthcare professional—regarding the storage of heat-sensitive medications or vaccines.
