A SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAIN
CLINICAL SOFTWARE
Can 3D printing solve the problems healthcare systems are currently facing ? We speak to two leaders in this field to find out .
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The many challenges healthcare systems face were thrown into the spotlight in 2020 due to the pandemic , among them medical supply shortages , supply chain disruptions , and a lack of personal protection equipment ( PPE ) for healthcare staff .
Almost overnight there was an urgent need for swabs to help test for the virus . Few healthcare providers , if any , were prepared for this sudden demand . “ Supply chains for hospitals to suddenly test 5,000 people just didn ’ t exist ,” explains Gautam Gupta , Vice President and General Manager , Medical Devices at 3D Systems Corporation .
“ It can take a month to establish a new factory , and what happens during that month ? It ’ s a healthcare nightmare , as well as a PR nightmare .”
A SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAIN
Gupta and his colleagues soon realised they had the technology to quickly print thousands of swabs each week , with a 3D printer that occupies less space than a refrigerator . “ The hospitals can own this supply chain , without having to open a factory or clear a major area of their facilities . They could
JANUARY 2021