The aim of this book is to identify the major drivers of change within the European healthcare systems and to evaluate risks and opportunities confronting pharmaceutical full-line wholesalers. These businesses are the most important link between pharmaceutical manufacturing and the point of sale; providing one-stop-shopping for healthcare professionals across Europe. While on the one hand European governments are interested to ensure broad access to healthcare provision for the general public with a high level of quality, they are on the other hand concerned with limiting cost increases and with the need to cap healthcare spending. In addition, the pharmaceutical industry faces a strong need to cut costs by outsourcing non-core activities and establishing new routes to the customer, often bypassing the established supply chain. Changing healthcare environments across Europe ask for new strategies of pharmaceutical wholesalers to be fit for the future. This book deals with the advantages that can be derived from the changing landscape of healthcare provision. Aging populations, markets in transition, outsourcing activities of manufacturers and legal changes provide the potential to turn threats into opportunities and further develop the business model of pharmaceutical wholesaling. Even with profound structural changes in healthcare systems, pharmaceutical wholesalers are provided with significant potential to remain a vital part of the pharmaceutical supply chain and to prosper in the future.

Auteur
Andreas Cmolik was born in 1975 in Upper Austria. He successfully graduated from his business studies in 2002 with the academic title "Magister der Sozial- und Wirtschaftswissenschaften". In 2010, he passed his Master of Business Administration at Danube Business School Krems with distinction.The author was able to gain comprehensive practical experience in pharmaceutical distribution. Over the course of his career, he has worked in warehousing and distribution, held the position of the assistant of the management board and established the business development department in Austria's largest pharmaceutical trading and service business. Andreas Cmolik has excellent international knowledge in pharmaceutical trading and currently holds several positions as member of the supervisory board in international pharmaceutical wholesalers.