Innovation platform VIL is looking into the possibilities of a healthcare hub in a new project, where the logistics activities of six healthcare institutions will be consolidated and optimised at a central location.
According to VIL, pressure on budgets, stricter regulations and changing medical needs make it necessary to organise healthcare logistics differently. It is therefore starting the 'Care Hubs' project with ten Belgian companies and six healthcare institutions.
Optimised logistics and economies of scale
With the project, VIL wants to investigate how regional healthcare logistics platforms can contribute to optimised logistics and economies of scale. For logistics service providers, the project would also offer opportunities to develop a new range of logistics services added value for the healthcare sector. Service providers such as bpost, DHL Supply Chain Benelux and Hospital Logistics are participating in the project.
Interest from healthcare institutions
According to VIL, the need for a logistics platform in the care sector is great, based on the interest that organisations showed in the VIL project. One of the participants is Zorgbedrijf Antwerpen, which is the largest player in the Antwerp care sector with 44 service centres, 3,350 service flats and 3,030 recognised beds in residential care centres.
Proof of concept
In the first track, participants will map all goods flows to and from the healthcare institutions, as well as the needs of stakeholders and legal constraints. Then it will be determined which flows and activities fit the logistics care platform. Based on this, a logistics concept will be worked out and tested in practice.
"The aim is to arrive at a proof of concept of practical feasibility. Based on the experience gained, we will map out how the care hub concept can be further rolled out in Flanders," VIL project leader Ludo Sys explains.
