Corona virus (COVID-19) outbreak - FAQ
Published on 2020-03-19 20:40:18COVID-19
(last updated 19/05/2021
As the COVID-19 pandemic still impacts our everyday (working and private) lives, IDA Foundation remains dedicated to fulfilling its mission of bridging the gap in access to medicines. Our teams in Amsterdam, Mumbai and around the world, are working together to ensure we can continue to support our customers in this time of uncertainty.
With a vast number of countries still applying a lock down or maintaining export restrictions as a consequence of the virus, as well as businesses in affected countries forced to (temporarily) close their operations, we are working closely with our customers to plan ahead.
We have compiled a FAQ (frequently asked questions) regarding the coronavirus, focusing on its impact on our product availability and supply chain. We will aim to keep this FAQ up to date as developments arise, but we advise to contact your IDA contact for the latest information regarding your specific orders.
For Global Fund Principal Recipients, please also see this COVID-19 Procurement and Supply Update for Principal Recipients.
In these times, please know that IDA Foundation is doing everything we can to ensure delivery of these essential health goods.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs- last updated May 19):
Q: Has the corona outbreak affected IDA's offices and warehouses?
All IDA offices remain fully operational, with our teams in Amsterdam and Mumbai working from home. Our offices in Amsterdam and Mumbai are open a few days a week for a limited number of people. Our warehouses are, and will remain, fully operational in Tilburg (NL) and Dubai (UAE).
Q: Are you still able to deliver products, including COVID-19 products?
Yes, we are able to deliver products, and we are also delivering various COVID-19 related products. IDA has stayed focused on sourcing COVID-19 supplies, mainly PPE products, by engaging manufacturers, securing prices and lead times. So far IDA has approved over 80 different PPE products from multiple suppliers, each well documented in IDA's Quality Management System. With our focus on PPE items, we are happy to share our range of PPE items available from stock in Dubai, currently the best global hub for humanitarian relief. For our PPE portfolio and other COVID-related items check our COVID-19 web page.
DIAGNOSTICS AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
Our QA team has closely monitored the development of diagnostic tests for COVID-19. Currently we have molecular (PCR) tests, antibody tests (rapid) and antigen tests (rapid) in our range. We also added infrared thermometers to our portfolio. Regarding medical equipment, please note we have oxygen concentrators, and we have approved a ventilator with a supplier that also supports installation and other services.
VACCINATION AND IMMUNISATION
We are committed to supporting health organisations in LMICs in the vaccine rollout, supplying the supporting materials and supplies needed for this major challenge. We supply syringes and needles, freezers and refrigerators but also safety boxes for safe disposal of used needles. Find the complete list on our COVID-19 web page.
Several treatment options are being studied. We are following these studies, and would like to recommend following EMA and WHO statements. We are supplying Dexamethasone injectables for the treatment of severe COVID-19 in hospitalized patients. Please note that it's very important that patients and healthcare professionals only use medicines for their authorised uses and as part of clinical trials or national emergency use programs for the treatment of COVID-19.
For a full overview of our current stock, please contact your IDA representative.
Q: How is the coronavirus outbreak affecting the global supply chain?
The COVID-19 pandemic has a drastic, and continuing effect on global supply chains. Aside from country restrictions and lockdowns, the outbreak has also impacted space and container availability throughout the world and this has been heavily impacting the global supply chain. For more detail on restrictions per region / country, please see the detailed yet concise overview of current country restrictions (as provided by the World Food Programme), see here.
In general, freight rates are estimated to remain higher than pre-COVID, well into the first half of 2021, and the situation is not estimated to improve throughout this year.
According to Seabury, global air freight capacity is still approximately 20% lower compared to pre-COVID, but we are seeing an increase in air capacity on a weekly basis. Depending on the routing however, capacity is still behind and air freight prices in general remain high. We are in active contact with all our logistic service partners and are able to find solutions to almost all destinations.
For sea freight, last minute blank sailings seen in the earlier stages of the pandemic are almost non-existent. Apart from the carrier schedules, the pandemic has also impacted the container availability in many locations, but primarily in Asia with severe shortages of containers reported in China and India. Forecasting of shipments becomes more and more important to ensure shipments can be booked and shipped as required. But even with correct forecasting in place, additional costs cannot always be avoided, with carriers taking advantage of the situation by charging surcharges to secure containers.
Q: How is the pandemic affecting manufacturers?
Our Chinese manufacturers and suppliers are all working as the situation in the country has stabilised. Our focus remains on sourcing PPE and other COVID-19 related items from approved suppliers and ensuring these are all aligned with the recently updated Chinese quality/export guidelines and restrictions related to PPE items. Where needed we have (newly) approved additional PPE products in our portfolio. For most PPE items, except for gloves, we can offer regular lead times (45 days), depending on quantaties requested and of course depending on other restrictions in the supply chain.
All manufacturing activities in India are allowed to operate at 100%, but still face some issues with availability of few API's. Almost all IDA manufacturers are working at 90-95% capacity.
With the global COVID-19 outbreak, suppliers, freight forwarders and IDA Foundation have recognized we are in a Force Majeure situation. Please see IDA's Sales Terms and Conditions (16: Force Majeure) which are applicable.
Norms and Terminology for face masks and respirators: Since the COVID-19 crisis our PPE portfolio has become very large. To help our customers understand the differences between face masks and respirators, we created an extended document with information considering this topic. Find the link on our COVID-19 web page under face masks and respirators.
Other questions? Please contact your assigned IDA contact:
USA, East Africa, Nigeria, DRC & Congo-Brazzaville, Middle East, Asia - Customerservice1@idafoundation.org
Europe, Guinea Bissau, Equatoriale Guinea, Cape Verde, Angola - Customerservice2@idafoundation.org
Latin America, Canada, West, Central & Southern Africa, the Pacifics - Customerservice3@idafoundation.org
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