Every morning, a rural pharmacy in Galicia, a veterinary clinic on the outskirts of Granada, or an aesthetic centre in a neighbourhood of Zaragoza opens its doors knowing that their products must arrive on time, intact, and in optimal conditions. For all of them, understanding what GDP is and how this standard ensures quality in the distribution of healthcare products is key to offering a professional and trustworthy service. In this article, we explain what this regulation consists of and how GLS PharmaService applies its principles to help you grow—wherever you are.
What Do Good Distribution Practices (GDP) Mean?
When it comes to pharmaceutical products, every link in the logistics chain plays a decisive role. From the point of origin to the place of delivery, it is essential to maintain conditions that guarantee not only that the shipment arrives, but also that its physical and functional integrity is preserved.
Good Distribution Practices (GDP), regulated by European Directive 2013/C 343/01 , are a set of requirements designed to ensure that pharmaceutical products do not suffer damage, improper handling, or exposure to unsuitable conditions during transport or storage. As the directive itself states: “Products should be stored and transported under conditions that do not compromise their quality; the distributor must prevent their deterioration, falsification, theft, or exposure to adverse conditions.”
Although originally conceived for medicines for human use, the regulation also covers the transport of medical products that are not temperature-sensitive—such as masks, gloves, surgical tools, professional cosmetics, or nutritional supplements—essential items in the day-to-day operations of many small businesses in the health sector.
Models and Systems for Distributing Pharmaceutical Products in Practice
The way a pharmaceutical product reaches its destination can vary depending on multiple factors: urgency, volume, geographic location, or the infrastructure of the receiving business. For this reason, different logistics models exist, and they must adapt to the operational realities of each sector.
Direct vs. Indirect Distribution: Advantages and Challenges
Choosing between a direct or indirect distribution model can transform the logistics experience of any small health-related business.
Direct distribution—where shipments go from supplier to customer without intermediaries—offers clear advantages: personalised contact, a lower margin for error, and a faster response to urgent needs. For small clinics, independent laboratories, or aesthetic centres, this model is ideal when frequent, on-demand deliveries are required.
Indirect distribution, on the other hand, involves passing through logistics centres or wholesalers. While it can reduce costs for large volumes, it introduces greater operational complexity, especially in environments where stock control, tracking, or strict deadlines are essential.
For many businesses in rural areas or with limited resources, access to a direct, flexible system backed by a robust network like GLS becomes a true differentiating factor.
Last-Mile Logistics Challenges in the Pharmaceutical Sector
The last mile is one of the most critical stages in the logistics chain, and in healthcare its challenges are even greater. It’s not just about delivering a parcel—we are talking about fulfilling a promise that sustains a clinic’s daily operations or a patient’s treatment.
Key challenges include:
- Geographic dispersion: Many pharmacies and clinics are located in areas with limited access, where logistics infrastructure is more demanding.
- Strict delivery windows: Some products must be delivered before the start of the working day or at specific patient-care times.
- Documentation control: In this sector, it’s not enough to leave a parcel; delivery validation, certified traceability, and often digital proof are required.
- Peak-period saturation: During high-demand seasons (winter, summer, etc.), maintaining delivery times without errors becomes especially complex.
- End-customer trust: A delay or incorrect delivery is not just a logistics issue—it can directly affect a healthcare professional’s image with their own patients or clients.
That’s why the last mile is not measured only in kilometres, but in trust gained or lost. And this is where specialisation and technology make all the difference.
GLS PharmaService: A GDP-Aligned Solution
In a context where efficiency, precision, and regulatory compliance are non-negotiable, GLS Spain’s PharmaService positions itself as a high-level logistics solution for healthcare products that are not temperature-sensitive and have no specific transport or preservation requirements. Its certification in accordance with GDP Directive 2013 ensures that all processes—from collection to delivery—meet the strictest quality and control standards.
- Scheduled national delivery from Monday to Saturday, with defined time slots.
- Hygienic and secure transport in closed-box vehicles suitable for healthcare products.
- Continuous shipment tracking, with scanning at every stage and real-time information availability.
- Tailored processing, with specific areas for healthcare goods and automated returns in case of damage.
- Delivery guaranteed exclusively to the recipient, with digital signature and no diversion to Parcel Shops or lockers.
All of this is backed by the reach of a network of over 620 agencies across Iberia, more than 5,500 delivery vehicles, and an infrastructure designed to reach where others cannot.