Managerial research on the pharmaceutical supply chain – A critical review and some insights for future directions

•Systematic review methodology utilizes analytical framework that includes 2-dimensional framework.•PSC themes, business processes, issues and structural dimensions are identified.•Research contribution to final value delivered to consumer is analyzed.•PSC research focuses on efficiency improvement, process analysis, technology implementation.•Low focus on integrated value addition and developing countries.

This paper presents a systematic review of research on management in the pharmaceutical supply chain (PSC). Recent PSC literature, published in peer-reviewed academic journals, was collated for content analysis. Research efforts depict a traditional focus on efficiency-improvement, with an emerging interest in process-analysis and technology implementation in the PSC. PSC research is also highly context-specific and focuses on developed economies. Accompanied with a transition towards network-centric approaches, studies depict distinct focus on three levels of industrial interaction, which influence the final value delivered. Research focus is rapidly moving from value addition within the pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution environment to the interface with healthcare services, facilitated by the healthcare procurement and supply function. The review broadly outlines the scope for integrating research efforts from R&D to final healthcare delivery and for more studies in emerging economies.