In today's rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, the demand for medical supplies and pharmaceuticals is skyrocketing. This expansion is fueled by an aging global demographic in need of more medical care and the ongoing need for a resilient healthcare infrastructure to combat new diseases.
This market's importance is underscored by robust growth predictions: the global pharmaceutical market is projected to reach US$1.21 trillion by 20251, while Vietnam's medical devices market is forecasted to grow at a 7.06% CAGR from 2025 to 2030, culminating in a market volume of US$2.45 billion by the end of 20302.
This anticipated market expansion signals a promising opportunity for healthcare businesses in Vietnam to scale their operations locally and globally. However, navigating the complexities of overseas shipping for such sensitive goods is a significant challenge.
By leveraging DHL Express Vietnam's Medical Express (WMX) services, a specialized device shipping solution for pharmaceutical products and medical devices, businesses can seamlessly meet these demands.
In this blog, we’ll delve deeper into DHL Express Vietnam’s role in supporting healthcare businesses with their logistic needs, ensuring these vital products get to where they need to be, safely and efficiently.
Thinking about moving sensitive medical products across borders? Talk to our pharma logistics experts to find a solution that works for you.
Types of pharmaceutical products and medical devices
When it comes to the medical and pharmaceutical industries, a wide array of products is frequently shipped across international borders. These can be broadly categorized as:
Pharmaceutical products | Medical devices |
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How to ship pharmaceutical products and medical devices: 6 factors to consider
For those in the healthcare industry, understanding the intricacies of shipping is not just a logistical task, but a critical part of a successful operation.
Let’s explore how you can ship pharmaceutical products and medical devices internationally, ensuring their safe and compliant transit across borders.
1. Temperature and humidity
Temperature and humidity are pivotal elements that can significantly impact the quality of medical supplies. If these conditions are not precisely maintained, pharmaceutical products can degrade, lose their potency, or become unsafe for use. This risk is amplified in international shipping, where pharmaceutical products may pass through various climate zones, each with its own temperature and humidity challenges.
Given the numerous entities involved and the challenges of a global network3, maintaining consistent temperature control throughout the supply chain is a critical factor for preventing
spoilage and maintaining product effectiveness.
We address this challenge by offering innovative temperature-controlled packaging solutions as part of our WMX service. These include:
- Frozen shipments: Meticulously maintained below -20°C, often utilizing dry ice supplies for shipments requiring extremely low temperatures, as low as -80°C.
- Chilled conditions: Solutions for items that must be kept at a stable temperature ranging from 2°C to 8°C.
- Controlled ambient: Environments that keep temperatures stable between 15°C and 25°C for products that require room-temperature conditions.
This extensive array of temperature-controlled solutions ensures that we can meet the diverse needs of the pharmaceutical industry, no matter the specific requirements.
2. Compliance with regulatory requirements for shipping specific goods
The importance of regulatory compliance is critical when shipping specific medically-related goods. Non-compliance can result in legal repercussions, compromised product integrity, and a tarnished business reputation.
DHL Express Vietnam sets a high standard in this domain by offering standard shipping from Vietnam to overseas, fully equipped to transport items classified under UN3373 and UN3245 for customers with a DHL corporate account. These classifications are defined by a specific set of rules and are critical for public health safety.
Classification | Goods typically classified under this | Requirements for shipping |
UN33734 | Biological substance in Category B, which includes diagnostic or clinical specimens, like:
| Requires compliant packaging and clear labeling as per UN3373 specifications to prevent leakage or breakage during transit. |
UN32455 | Genetically modified microorganisms or organisms that don’t meet the criteria for infectious substances. | Requires specialized packaging and specific documentation to ensure containment and safe handling throughout the shipping process. |
Our mandatory specialized training in accordance with aviation authority and International Air Transport Association (IATA) guidelines ensures that all medical supplies or shipments that pass through our network meet stringent safety and compliance standards.
As a result, you can have peace of mind knowing you’re partnering with a credible international express shipping service provider.
3. Lead times
Timely delivery is paramount in pharmaceutical logistics, particularly if you handle high-priority and time-sensitive medical goods. This became evident during the initial rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Vietnam, where securing doses for the most vulnerable populations was a national priority.
Due to a global shortage, Vietnam prioritized vaccine distribution for frontline healthcare workers and individuals more likely to present severe or critical disease5. Delays in these vaccine shipments could result in slower mass distribution, increased transmission rates, higher casualties, and economic disruptions.
Our WMX service mitigates these risks by offering the earliest possible collection times and priority delivery. This involves using pharmaceutical cold chain packaging solutions, real-time temperature monitoring, and expedited customs clearance to minimize transit time.
This operational efficiency not only helps you maintain the quality of medical supplies, but also gives you a competitive advantage, allowing you to reach international markets more quickly.
4. Customs clearance documents
Navigating customs clearance for pharma products and medical devices is a complex but crucial process, requiring extensive documentation and adherence to stringent regulations. To ensure a seamless journey, here are some critical documents generally required:
- Commercial invoice: Provides details about the shipment, such as the shipper, receiver, description of the medical supplies, Harmonized System (HS) code, value and weight, etc.
- Air waybill: Contains necessary information for DHL to transport the shipment, including but not limited to the address and contact information of the shipper and receiver, a complete and accurate description of the medical goods being shipped, the number of pieces, weight and dimensions.
- Certificate of origin: Verifies the country in which the goods were manufactured.
- Dangerous goods declaration: Essential for shipping hazardous medical specimens, biohazardous materials, or chemicals used in medical research.
- Customs declaration form: Used to declare medical supplies for import or export and calculate applicable global shipping costs.
Providing these documents completely and accurately can help to fast-track the customs clearance process, as well as minimize the potential risks of delays and fines related to the pharmaceutical products and medical equipment.
DHL Express Vietnam's WMX service simplifies this by ensuring that all necessary paperwork is in order and compliant with local and international regulations, which further supports streamlined customs processing and helps minimize potential delays related to pharmaceutical shipments.
5. Systems tracking and traceability
When shipping medical products, maintaining an unbroken chain of custody through a robust tracking system is essential for quality control. This involves maintaining a comprehensive, digital record of a product's journey from its point of origin to its final destination.
In the event that quality issues arise, such as a pharmaceutical product being exposed to incorrect temperatures or a recall becoming necessary, a comprehensive system of traceability allows you to quickly pinpoint the exact location of affected products and retrieve them from the supply chain. This swift, precise response minimizes potential harm to patients, limits business liability, and protects your brand's reputation.
6. Packaging and labeling
Packaging and labeling are the first line of defence for pharmaceutical and medical products during transit. Proper packaging is essential for protecting goods from a range of physical damages, including shocks, vibrations, and compression that can occur during handling and transport.
At the same time, clear and accurate labelling is paramount for proper identification, ensuring regulatory compliance and enabling efficient handling by logistics personnel.
To meet these high standards, you should incorporate best practices such as:
- Using insulated containers and specialized coolants to maintain required temperatures.
- Applying tamper-evident seals to provide a clear visual indicator of security.
- Utilizing absorbent materials such as foam inserts and bubble wrap, and internal bracing to prevent any movement within the box.
- Ensuring labels are clear, durable, and include all necessary information, such as product details, handling instructions (e.g., "Fragile," "This Side Up"), and relevant regulatory markings.
2. Boost your healthcare operations with DHL Express Vietnam
While the intricate maze of pharmaceutical transportation regulations can be overwhelming, you don't have to navigate it alone. DHL Express Vietnam's WMX services provide specialised, industry-leading solutions that cater to the unique demands of pharmaceutical logistics, ensuring your medical supplies arrive safely, securely, and promptly.
With our global network spanning 220 countries and territories, we won’t only streamline your business operations but also contribute to the greater goal of advancing global healthcare.
Open a DHL Express Vietnam business account today and let us be your trusted partner in bridging healthcare solutions.
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