Medical logistics is often misunderstood as a variation of general freight.
In reality, it is a specialised discipline designed to support healthcare delivery, clinical outcomes, and regulatory requirements.

Hospitals, laboratories, pharmacies, research institutes, and medical device companies don’t move “packages”.
They move blood products, diagnostic specimens, investigational drugs, temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, and patient-critical supplies.

That difference matters — because the risks, responsibilities, and consequences are not the same.

What Is Medical Logistics?

Medical logistics refers to the transport and handling of healthcare-related materials under conditions that protect viability, compliance, and patient safety.

It exists to support healthcare systems by ensuring that critical items arrive:

  • within defined temperature ranges

  • within strict timeframes

  • with documented handling and traceability

  • with clear accountability when conditions change

Medical logistics is not just about moving items from one location to another.
It is about preserving integrity throughout the journey.

Why Medical Logistics Is Not General Freight

General freight is optimised for efficiency and volume.
Medical logistics is designed for risk management and clinical reliability.

The difference is not subtle.

General freight typically focuses on:

  • parcels and commercial goods

  • delivery windows

  • standard handling processes

  • completion of delivery

Medical logistics focuses on:

  • biological and pharmaceutical materials

  • viability windows and clinical timelines

  • temperature control and monitoring

  • chain-of-custody and documentation

  • escalation when risk emerges

In healthcare, a delivery can be “on time” and still be unusable if conditions are not maintained.

What Makes Medical Logistics More Complex

Medical logistics introduces layers of complexity that do not exist in general freight.

Temperature Control

Many medical consignments require frozen, chilled, or controlled room temperature handling.
Even small excursions can compromise viability, invalidate clinical trials, or delay patient care.

Temperature control must be:

  • appropriate to the product

  • maintained throughout transit

  • monitored and documented

  • defensible during audits

Chain-of-Custody

Medical consignments often require traceability — not just proof of delivery.
This includes documented handovers, clear accountability, and visibility across the journey.

Escalation Pathways

In medical logistics, delays and risks must be addressed immediately.
Escalation pathways need to be aligned to clinical urgency, not convenience.

Compliance and Governance

Healthcare organisations operate within strict regulatory and governance frameworks.
Logistics providers must support audit readiness, documentation, and compliance — not create additional risk.

What Healthcare Teams Should Expect from a Medical Courier

Healthcare teams should not need to educate their courier on why a consignment matters.

A medical courier should:

  • understand clinical urgency and constraints

  • recognise the difference between delay and failure

  • manage temperature as a requirement, not an option

  • provide visibility and clear communication

  • take ownership when conditions change

Medical logistics works best when it aligns with how healthcare teams already operate — with discipline, accountability, and care.

How SUB60 Medical Is Designed for Healthcare

SUB60 Medical was built specifically for healthcare — not adapted from general freight.

That means:

  • services designed around frozen, chilled, and controlled room temperature movements

  • validated packaging selected based on product type and risk

  • active monitoring and documented handling

  • escalation workflows aligned to clinical priorities

  • teams trained to understand healthcare environments

This design allows healthcare teams to move critical consignments with confidence — knowing integrity is maintained, evidenced, and defensible.

Why the Difference Matters

In healthcare, logistics outcomes don’t stop at delivery.
They affect diagnostics, treatment decisions, research timelines, and patient outcomes.

Medical logistics is a discipline because the stakes are higher.

That’s why the distinction between medical logistics and general freight isn’t semantic — it’s essential.

Because in medical logistics, responsibility isn’t shared.
It’s owned.