Barriers and Opportunities in Recalls Management at the Health Care Provider level

One of the operational risks to which a Health Care Provider (HCP) is exposed is the receiving and use of products such as pharmaceuticals and medical devices that could become subject to a health alert. This patient safety issue has to be managed in order to prevent and mitigate adverse events at the last echelon of the supply chain. This article aims to expose a characterization of the alerts response process at the HCP level based on a review of the literature. Additionally, local regulations, strengths and weaknesses were identified. Finally, the study allowed for the identification of the principal opportunities and barriers that should be addressed in order to integrate the recall management process within and outside the HCP. Among these opportunities is traceability along the supply chain, and among the barriers is the high investment in the technology required to facilitate supply chain integration.