HCL is a relatively new company on Jamaica’s health care landscape. During its short life it has had a positive impact on the public sector pharmaceutical and medical supplies system.

HCL purchases its supplies in bulk and is able to obtain fixed prices for eighteen months for most of its pharmaceutical and medical supplies by way of international competitive bidding. The company’s sophisticated bidding system allows it to purchase pharmaceuticals not only from well-established brand name companies, but also from proven and reliable generic companies. HCL aims to offer the highest quality pharmaceutical and medical supplies to satisfy the needs of health care facilities throughout Jamaica. Through the use of its extensive network of both overseas and local manufacturers and wholesalers it is able to provide “hard to get” pharmaceuticals for life threatening diseases and emergency needs. This service has been provided to numerous private individuals, particularly patients with cancer and HIV/AIDS.

The company’s regular services are offered Monday to Fridays during the hours 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. An emergency response service is also available, mainly to satisfy the emergency needs of the hospitals, outside of the regular hours, on weekends, and during public holidays.

In 1996, the company was mandated to establish retail pharmacies under the Drug Serv Programme to combat the escalating costs of pharmaceuticals in the country. There are now eight pharmacies located in Kingston, St. Thomas, St. Catherine, Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, Clarendon and Manchester. HCL is also the sole provider of procurement, warehousing and distribution services for the Ministry of Health’s Jamaica Drugs for the Elderly Programme (J.A.D.E.P.), and warehouse and distributes vaccines for the nation’s immunization programme.

The company has not only focused on its internal affairs but as a good corporate citizen has supported various charitable events, given talks to students in a number of schools and participated in community health fairs.

The company maintains a fully computerized inventory management system from receipt of orders to distribution to customers. The Data Processing Centre is also networked with the Drug Serv retail pharmacies.

Customers

Health Corporation’s major customers are the Regional Health Authorities who have direct responsibility for the delivery of health care. The public sector end users comprise 21 public hospitals and 13 Health Departments located throughout the island. The Health Departments oversee the operations of approximately 360 government health centres. The Hope Institute, the Bellevue Hospital, the Mona Rehabilitation Centre, the Dental Auxiliary School and the Blood Bank are other government health institutions served by the company.

The University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) also purchases small amounts of pharmaceuticals to deal with emergency cases when there are delays in the arrival of stocks from their suppliers. In addition, HCL supplies “service items” to private hospitals and individuals. “Service items” are specialized items that are used in low volumes, are usually very expensive, have relatively short shelf lives, and are usually used for the treatment of life threatening diseases, such as cancer, tetanus and conditions requiring special immunological agents. Due to the low profitability of these items the private sector pharmaceutical distributors stock them in small amounts, if at all. Relationships have also developed with a number of church clinics, schools and non-profit organizations such as the Diabetes Association of Jamaica and The Foundation For International Self Help Development (JA.) Limited (FISH).

Products

The range of products carried by the company’s distribution arm is divided into the following product categories: pharmaceuticals; medical sundries; x-ray products; pharmaceutical raw materials; dental supplies and sutures. Pharmaceuticals and medical sundries are by far the largest product categories, comprising approximately 800 and 300 items, respectively.

The company procures its supplies from approximately 80 pharmaceutical and medical supplies companies located in 20 countries.