If you're researching pharmaceutical distributors for your medical mission, clinic, or hospital, you may have numerous questions...or you may be unclear which questions to ask.
From our forty-four years of experience in the nonprofit pharmaceutical sector, where we've worked with or alongside everyone from manufacturers to patients, we've compiled the following questions to help you find the best distributor for your mission.
1. Do you protect my license by being registered with my state’s board of pharmacy?
For a licensed pharmaceutical distributor, protecting your license is paramount. It is crucial to work with a distributor who is fully compliant with all state and federal regulations for shipping medications. Before placing an order, confirm that the distributor is properly licensed with your state's board of pharmacy or relevant regulatory agency. This is a non-negotiable step to ensure you are receiving products from a distributor who is legally able to ship into your state. This should be the first question you ask a distributor!
Our Answer: We are legally able to ship prescription medicines into every state, with the exception of North Dakota and Wyoming. To understand more about our licensing policies, read this post, “Your Licensing Questions Answered.”
2. Are your products donated or imported?
There are two primary models you will come across in pharmaceutical distribution: donation-based and replenishment model. Knowing the difference between these two models will help you make an informed decision that aligns with best practices and your organization's needs.
- A donation-based model is one where the pharmaceutical distributor is using product that has been donated as gifts-in-kind so that they can redistribute at little to no cost. The benefit of ordering from this type of distributor is affordability. However, it can equate long-term to an unpredictable supply. Donated items usually come with short expiration dates and vary in accessibility and quantity.
- A replenishment model is one where the 501(c)3 pharmaceutical distributor works directly with manufacturers and other venders, purchasing the products at a significant discount so that discount can be passed along to non-profit partners. The benefits of this model are reliability, control over product selection and quantity, and long expiration dates. It also ensures consistency of supply for long-term partnerships, providing uninterrupted care and a reliable inventory.
Understanding the source of your distributor's products impacts everything from expiration dates to consistency, so ask this up-front.
Our Answer: We have operated under the replenishment model since 1995 when we began purchasing pharmaceuticals.
3. Is your formulary consistent?
A consistent formulary is critical for providing uninterrupted patient care and building trust with the community you are serving in. When you partner with a distributor that maintains a stable and predictable product list, it:
1) Allows you to provide a consistent supply of their medications
2) Allows the community to count on you to have the medications they need, especially for long-term health management
3) Simplifies inventory management, so you won't waste time searching for alternative products.
Before you partner with a distributor, make sure their formulary is reliable. This simple step can have a significant impact on the quality of care you provide.
Our Answer: We offer a consistent formulary to better serve our partners and the communities they reach on a regular basis.
4. Are there extra costs for shipping, etc.?
This simple question can reveal important details about a distributor's service. Not understanding your supplier’s potential costs will directly impact your budget and operational efficiency. A distributor with a clear and consistent shipping policy can help you avoid unexpected expenses and plan more effectively.
Knowing up-front whether your order will have shipping costs can mean the difference between having the exact budget for all your needs and having to fundraise for more.
Our Answer: We offer free standard shipping on all orders within the United States, and free export shipping on orders over $1,500. Please visit this page for additional information and requirements.
5. What is your expiration date policy?
Some countries require pharmaceutical products to be more than six, twelve, or even eighteen months away from their use-by date at the time of entry. Asking this question helps your organization know whether you are traveling into a country that has strict expiration date requirements.
Our Answer: We work hard to maintain an inventory of long-dated items, and we never sell expired products. When placing an order, you can specify the expiration date range you need, based on the requirements of the country you’ll be entering with pharmaceuticals. This allows you to have confidence that your pharmaceuticals will not be confiscated when entering the country.
6. Are the products high quality?
The materials you take to the mission field reflect not only your commitment to patient care but Christ himself. We recognize this is a huge responsibility.
It’s essential to partner with a distributor that prioritizes quality and compliances. A reputable distributor ensures that all products are sourced from manufacturers who meet or exceed strict regulatory standards. This is not just a preference; it's a critical requirement to guarantee patient safety and the effectiveness of the medicines.
Our Answer: As our CEO says, quality is not just a material standard, but an eternal legacy. Our rigorous policies and procedures allow us to stay ready to prove to the FDA and partners alike that our facility and our suppliers are meeting high standards.
7. Am I able to order special items that are not on your formulary?
Knowing all your options when evaluating a pharmaceutical distributor will help you better serve communities and patients. If you don’t see everything you need on a distributor’s catalog, be sure to ask if they can accommodate special requests.
Our Answer: Absolutely! We are pleased to offer this special service to help more people access specialty medicine. Learn more about special request items at our international services page.
8. BONUS: Can we meet in person?
The reason this is a bonus question is because we want to take the opportunity to invite you to the conferences we attend so that we can meet in person. The next major conference we’re exhibiting at is the Global Missions Health Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, November 6-8, 2025. As a sponsor of this conference, we believe in its effectiveness for global health. We highly recommend it to anyone involved in short- and long-term medical missions. Register for GMHC to learn more about medical missions, and we’ll see you there.
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