ARLINGTON, Va. — The Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA) plans to hold the 2017 International Pharmaceutical Distribution Conference (IPDC) this fall in Geneva, Switzerland.

HDA said the fourth annual event, scheduled for Oct. 16 and 17 at the Grand Hotel Kempinski Geneva, will be held in partnership with the Swiss Pharma Logistics Association (Pharmalog.ch), European Healthcare Distribution Association (GIRP) and International Federation of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers (IFPW).

John Gray

Most recently, the IPDC was held in London. HDA also has hosted the event in Beijing and Brussels.

“HDA has continued to expand its effort to connect with our colleagues and trading partners on a global level,” HDA president and chief executive officer John Gray stated. “We are pleased to once again be working in partnership with our international counterparts to help educate and inform our supply chain partners and look forward to continuing the effort to prepare our collective distributor members, as well as their manufacturer and retail partners, to function as one, integrated pharmaceutical supply chain.”

For drug distributor, manufacturer and supply chain executives worldwide, the 2017 IPDC will feature educational sessions on the business practices and emerging strategies to help foster patient safety, security and efficiencies in the global pharmaceutical supply chain. The program also will highight opportunities to bolster global trading partnerships.

Senior executives and pharmaceutical industry experts will lead sessions on such topics as collaborative supply chain trading partnerships, pharmaceutical traceability and medication verification, value-based outcomes and reimbursement, the development and role of biosimilars, the political and policy landscape shaping drug distribution in Europe and the United States, and the financial outlook for the global pharmaceutical market.

“For the fourth consecutive year, we are delighted to be a participating member at the International Pharmaceutical Distribution Conference. There is no doubt that this year will only build upon the success of the previous three events,” commented IFPW president Mark Parrish. “This conference creates an environment where, as a global industry, we can better understand perspectives on business practices and emerging strategies that will enhance access to medicines and services for patients.”