Medical consumables are medical supplies that are non-durable, so by nature, they are always in demand. They play a crucial role in healthcare, so in many cases, specifications are controlled with minimum standards.
Whether we are talking about disposables (e.g. vinyl gloves) or limited use consumables (e.g. face shields), assuring the quality of products is essential. Herein lies the importance of choosing the right medical consumable supplier.
This article will discuss how to choose a medical consumable supplier so you can source safe and high-quality consumables for your practice.
Supplier legitimacy
With the medical industry being so regulated, don’t assume that all medical consumable suppliers are legit. The supplier should have a physical address on their website, a contact number, and ideally, pictures of the warehouse/stock.
The reason we mention this point first is because several pop-up companies have borne from the coronavirus pandemic. With no viable returns policy and the aim to push through sales rapidly, you might have a bad experience.
Recognised brands
Medical consumable suppliers don’t design or develop consumables themselves, so ISO certification and other certifications are sought by the brand/manufacturer. As such, there is a real need to only seek out reputable brands.
This is especially true of products that have standards, like face masks, face shields, disposable safety kits and eye goggles. When suppliers sell brands you have never heard of, you should question their quality and suitability.
Legitimate sources
Even with recognised brands, the risk of counterfeits exists, so your medical consumable supplier needs to have legitimate sources. The only way to assure this is to ask the supplier and seek their assurance on product legitimacy.
Another aspect to legitimacy is suppliers buying old batches (some will source old batches even when there is a risk the stock is out of date). With COVID-19 masks, for example, there have been out-of-date masks on the market.
History and reputation
History is a great indicator of a supplier’s long-term sustainability (the older the supplier, the more likely they will serve you for years to come). Reputation, meanwhile, is important to gauge the service quality and reliability of the supplier.
When was the medical consumable supplier founded? Who runs the company? Do they have reviews? Do they have a reputation in the industry? Do the NHS or any other public or private companies use them to procure supplies?
Customer service and delivery
Our last point speaks more to the e-commerce satisfaction side of things. Ideally, your supplier will have a phone number you can call five days a week, an email address they will answer within 24-hours, and a live chat facility.
Delivery options unlock greater flexibility, which may be important if you need consumables the next day or on a weekend. If the supplier uses distributors, consider how this may affect delivery times, and how you can resolve delays.
Summing up
Choosing a medical consumable supplier requires vetting the company’s legitimacy, brand/product range, supply chain and reputation. Fast delivery options and a person to talk to on the phone are always welcome for customer experience.