Pharmaceutical and healthcare companies are turning to DHL to transport critical coronavirus medical supplies

DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist of Deutsche Post DHL Group, announced today that it is partnering with specialized customers in the healthcare sector to move more than 100 tons a week of much-needed supplies, equipment parts, pharmaceuticals and protective clothing for hospitals, healthcare workers and patients throughout the United States. The new customer partnerships are part of DHL Global Forwarding’s continued commitment to provide a holistic range of patient-centric solutions and deliver them where they are needed most – especially during this coronavirus pandemic.


“As a globally operating company, epidemic and pandemic risk scenarios are an integral part of the Group's continuous risk planning, and our operations are being continuously adapted to mitigate potential impacts to our customers,” said David Goldberg, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding, US. “I am personally committed to prioritizing any medicine or aid shipments in and out of the US during these challenging times. We are working with our customers to move masks, gloves, ventilator parts, life-saving pharmaceuticals to patients, hospitals and our valued healthcare workers in the US to make sure they are protected on the frontlines.”

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Getinge, the world market leader in advanced ventilators for intensive care units based in Getinge, Sweden, has seen an increased global demand for ventilators, extra corporeal life support (ECLS) equipment and advanced monitoring for Intensive Care Units. To meet the global demand Getinge has temporarily increased its production of ventilators by 160% in 2020 compared to 2019 at its production facility in Solna, Sweden. Because of this increase, DHL Global Forwarding is providing Getinge with global cargo shipments of ventilators, pumps and cardio vascular machines from Europe to the United States, fast tracking high priority customs clearance for their cargo which in turn allows these products to be on site in the US with minimal delays and security safeguards in place to help save lives.

“At Getinge, we believe that saving lives is the greatest job in the world”, states Frank Kozar, VP Logistics Americas for Getinge.  “Our products play a critical role in aiding both clinicians and patients in their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.  As we continue to increase supply capacity on life-saving equipment, my team and I are personally committed to use every resource available to us to shorten the time it takes to get these products to our healthcare partners.  They are relying on us.  At Getinge, we are grateful to DHL Global Forwarding for their help in expediting these necessary products to healthcare practitioners and patients who so desperately need them. “    

DHL Global Forwarding is a primary logistics provider for West Pharmaceutical Services, a global leader in innovative solutions for injectable drug administration. West Pharmaceutical Services manufactures stoppers and seals for injectable packaging systems, syringe and cartridge components, and containment and delivery systems. DHL Global Forwarding is not only transporting this crucial cargo, but is also providing solutions for expediting urgent shipments due to the increased demand for West products during the coronavirus crisis. 

Along with logistics support, West is also utilizing market updates from DHL Resilience360, an end-to-end risk management platform that alerts customers about incidents and risks to their global supply chain – such as inclement weather, geopolitical issues and pandemics – in almost real time. Through a global mapping device, customers are able to anticipate and respond quicker to incidents to avert or minimize business interruption, maintaining their edge over the rest of the competition. With the near real-time data, West Pharmaceutical Services is able to closely monitor shipments moved via DHL Global Forwarding’s numerous services including airfreight, LCL and FCL.

“During these challenging times, DHL has been a highly responsive partner to our business needs to ensure that our critical components and products are delivered to our global healthcare customers, many who are working on coronavirus vaccines, treatments and diagnostics,” commented David Montecalvo, SVP and Chief Operations & Supply Chain Officer, West Pharmaceutical Services. “In addition, the management platform provides us direct visibility to our customer shipments truly placing us by the side of our customers.”

Sunset Healthcare Solutions, a manufacturer that provides high-quality, affordable respiratory supplies, looked to DHL Global Forwarding for multi-service solutions during today’s capacity limits on commercial flights. DHL Global Forwarding provided services including air and ocean freight to transport much needed supplies like tubes, extra parts, gloves and masks to hospitals, patients and the community to the US.

Throughout this pandemic and onward, DHL Global Forwarding is committed to track, comprehend, and comply with essential and increasing rules and regulations for the storage, transportation, and delivery of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, biological products, and patient-specific treatments. Now more than ever its global network knows that lives are at stake when a shipment contains life-saving or life-enhancing medication or equipment.