The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the health index in almost every country across the world. And the countries in the GCC region are no exception. The widespread presence of the virus accounted for a huge surge in demand for basic health infrastructure and medical supplies, which was crippled due to restrictions on shipments in international waters. This surely opened the eyes of several governments who realized just how sensitive the global supply chain was and how it could be disrupted by the slightest alteration in the way things operate during normal times. To ensure that such a tragedy doesn’t hit the logistics industry again, several governments, including those in the GCC region have started working on devising a more robust transportation plan and strategic development of schemes that will allow a smoother functioning of the logistics industry. One such system that has made a huge difference in the way pharma-related goods are transported in the TIR system, the implementation and widespread use of which has benefited Oman and its shipping companies and cargo services tremendously. The road freight segment that utilized the TIR system accounted for the Highest Share of the GCC Pharmaceutical Logistics Landscape. And that is good news for a region that witnessed the immense struggle to meet the rising demands only some time back.Â
The TIR System to the rescue
To create a transport-friendly environment, the Oman government has been charting out some effective plans and strategies under their Vision 2030 and National Transformation Programs. These plans will further enhance the Sultanate’s capability to meet the rising demand for pharma products as well as streamline the transportation woes. And one of the biggest contributors to creating a logistics-friendly environment is the International Road Transport System (TIR). The Oman government recently adopted this approach for the betterment and stability of its road transport system and to provide a more streamlined supply to all its major contributors.Â
One of the main aims behind launching the TIR system was to reduce the time taken in cross-border shipments that often lead to delays in delivering the goods. This posed a serious issue during the pandemic as a large number of shipments were stuck at international borders and the supply of essentials was impacted due to that. But the impact of cross-border delay goes a long way beyond just what happened during the pandemic. Such delays can possibly destroy time and temperature-sensitive goods and can also break the overall supply chain.Â
The implementation of the TIR system has started yielding results almost immediately. The road freight segment that utilized the TIR system accounted for the Highest Share of the GCC Pharmaceutical Logistics Landscape. It has been a real boon for the country as its implementation has cut the transport time by 25 percent on some routes and has reduced the waiting time at the country’s international borders by an average of 2-3 days.Â
How TIR is helping boost the pharma transport industry
The logistics companies driving the pharma-related goods in Oman are beginning to feel the benefits as the TIR system cuts the overall transit time considerably. Not just that, shorter time taken means that the trucks are running for a shorter period of time consuming less fuel and increasing their total number of trips. The logistics companies can look at maximizing their profits while serving their nation by transporting important and essential commodities.Â
The Oman government has been planning to reduce its dependence on pharma imports and develop a more localized and self-dependent pharma production industry. Keeping this core proposition in mind, the government is now emphasizing the use of proper transportation and logistics usage to ensure that the pharma-related goods movement remains in the pink of its health. Since the pandemic, the GCC region has seen a significant rise in demand for the pharma products, and to facilitate its population with the best possible means, the TIR policy has come to the fore as an important means to support the same. Â
This is surely great news for the shipping companies in the country as they can now go about their business in a more streamlined manner. With a more robust cross-border system in place, the logistics companies and other key players can concentrate on moving the pharma-related products efficiently instead of worrying about how they are going to go past the international borders. Better, faster, and more efficient cargo services mean that Oman can think of building a health infrastructure that suffices the country’s health-related needs and may even exceed expectations in the coming years.
