K+N scoops UK’s International Express Freight Service for urgent medical shipments

Kuehne+Nagel (K+N) has been awarded a contract to run the UK’s International Express Freight Service (IEFS) for urgent medical shipments on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

The service has been launched to deliver products to the UK rapidly when a supplier’s own logistical arrangements are disrupted, to ensure patients can continue to access the treatments they need.

Medicines and medical goods which are at risk of shortage will be transported to the UK within days, the country’s government claimed.

The service will aim to collect and deliver small parcels within 24 to 48 hours and pallets or shipments within two to four working days

The contract was awarded to K+N following “an open procurement process”.

Stuart Innes, air logistics director for UK for Kuehne+Nagel International, said: “Kuehne+Nagel are committed to ensuring the UK public continue to receive the treatment they need, when they need it most.

“We are immensely proud to be providing the logistical support behind the International Express Freight Service for the Department of Health and Social Care, applying our expertise, capabilities and robust global network to transport critical medical supplies.”

Suppliers are responsible for payment of carriage and any additional services agreed in conjunction with product movements under each of the IEFS solutions (parcel, pallets and specials) when used.

“The International Express Freight Service is a contingency measure to provide authorised suppliers with an emergency capability to help maintain the uninterrupted supply of medicines and medical products where there is an urgent need or where a supplier’s own logistic arrangements are disrupted,” the government explained.