The healthcare sector in the Asia-Pacific is expanding rapidly, driven by rising demand, scientific innovation, and increased investment. Yet this growth comes with serious risks. Mishandling pharmaceutical operations, whether through weak regulation, fragmented supply chains, or lack of security standards, can have devastating consequences for society, from counterfeit medicines to life-threatening drug shortages.
Securing medical supply chains is therefore a cornerstone of resilient health systems. These supply chains are highly complex and internationalized, often involving multiple suppliers, manufacturers, and logistics partners across borders. Without robust safeguards, every link becomes a potential vulnerability, threatening patient safety, eroding public trust, and disrupting access to life-saving treatments.
Biggest Risks and Security Threats to Pharmaceutical Companies
1. Contaminated or Counterfeit Medicines: A Life-or-Death Risk
Weak regulatory oversight in pharmaceutical supply chains has had catastrophic consequences.
A recent WHO and UN report highlights that more than 300 deaths across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific since 2022 have been linked to children’s syrups contaminated with industrial-grade chemicals, such as diethylene glycol.
Moreover, counterfeit drugs often with wrong or absent active ingredients, or even harmful substances pose a massive public health threat. Globally, counterfeit pharmaceuticals cost the industry hundreds of billions annually and are responsible for untold morbidity and mortality.
In India, as reported by Medical Dialogues, 5,300 bottles of fake cough syrup were seized. The syrup was found to be mixed with banned sedatives and falsely labelled to look like a genuine product from reputed pharmaceutical companies.
2. Increasing Cybersecurity Threats Across the Supply Chain
As digitalization accelerates, so do vulnerabilities across the healthcare supply chain. HealthTechAsia reported that 96% of healthcare organizations have experienced negative impacts from cyber incidents linked to third-party suppliers in APAC. Alarmingly, 31% admit they lack visibility and are unaware of when such incidents occur.
These cyberattacks can trigger data breaches, operational shutdowns, patient safety risks, and lasting reputational damage. The risks are not only digital, but also a recent report by Thaiger that a total amount of USD370 millions of counterfeit cough syrup in Thailand were discovered at a retail market. This highlights how weak supply chain controls open the door to both cyber and physical threats.
3. Hijacking of Pharmaceutical Shipment
The hijacking of pharmaceutical shipments poses a severe threat across Asia-Pacific, where high-value medicines and vaccines are prime targets for organized crime groups.
Beyond the immediate financial losses, hijacked cargo often enters illicit markets, where drugs may be tampered with, stored improperly, or resold as counterfeits. This not only endangers patients who unknowingly consume compromised medicines but also undermines public confidence in the healthcare system.
In India, anti-diabetic drugs worth over USD 228,000 were stolen from a company’s warehouse and diverted to the black market. In another case in Pakistan, a truck transporting medicines valued at more than USD 116,000 was hijacked at gunpoint in the Jamshoro district, as reported by Nation.com.pk. Such events underscore the urgent need for robust security standards, covering secure facilities, vetted logistics partners, and controlled transport routes to safeguard pharmaceutical supply chains.
TAPA Standards: Strengthening Regulatory and Supply Chain Resilience
Regulatory delays can hinder market access. Security breaches during transit or storage can jeopardize product quality and patient safety. Meeting regulatory expectations while aligning with international best practices is not just good business, it’s essential. Implementing TAPA Standards provides a competitive edge and reassurance to regulators, partners, and patients that security and compliance are taken seriously.
The Transported Asset Protection Association Asia Pacific (TAPA APAC), is designed to protect high-value and theft-sensitive goods, including pharmaceuticals.
- Pharmaceutical Facility Security Requirements (PFSR): Represents minimum standards for secure handling, storage, and transportation of pharmaceutical products at facilities and storage locations involved in the pharmaceutical supply chain, while the Pharmaceutical Trucking Security Requirements (PTSR) is an add on to the categories of Trucks covered to attain Audit Certification.
- Facility Security Requirements (FSR): Specifies minimum security standards for storage facilities, updated every three years, with the latest revision effective 2023 and the next due in 2026
- Trucking Security Requirements (TSR): Sets standards for secure transport operations; also updated every three years alongside FSR.
Why Implement TAPA Standards in your Operations?
- Demand for secure, compliant supply chains is rising, TAPA provides frameworks and audit tools to meet that demand.
- Case in point: Zuellig Pharma Hong Kong earned FSR (2019) and TSR (2020) certifications, driving operational excellence and trust. CEO Andi Umbricht emphasized that “TAPA TSR outlines a set of fixed standards and specifications not only for Zuellig Pharma Hong Kong to follow, but also as a reference tool for clients. By following the requirements stipulated in TAPA FSR, TAPA TSR and ISO 28000 Supply Chain Security Management System, Zuellig Pharma Hong Kong and its working partners and clients can benefit from improved processes along the supply chain.”
- TAPA Standards complement quality and regulatory systems and help integrate logistics and regulatory compliance, reinforcing processes and supply chain integrity.
To know more about TAPA Standards, email info@tapa-apac.org