Objective:

To design a cold chain management system for the Cuban Wholesale Distribution Company of Pharmaceuticals EMCOMED that guarantees the quality of warehousing and transportation operations and the preservation of product integrity during handling.

Methods:

A search was conducted to select updated bibliography with scientific rigor concerning the cold chain quality management system to be used as a reference. The cause-effect technique was applied to establish the necessary elements for the cold chain integral management and to draw up a standard operation procedure (SOP).

Results:

Four main elements were identified to be necessary for establishing the cold chain management system of the company. The SOP “Guidelines for the cold chain integral management” was drawn up.

Conclusions:

The cold chain management system of EMCOMED is based on four main elements. The SOP drawn up, sets out the necessary activities for the cold chain quality assurance. Its practical application brings economic and social benefits to the company and it could be an example to other distribution companies of temperature sensitive products.

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