How Hospital BasedGalenic Labs Helped Combat COVID-19 Shortages A Case Study from Northern Italy

Introduction

Inside the Galenic Response Summary of Findings

The PC Area, encompassing six hospitals with 700+ beds, experienced a surge in demand for sanitization products during March–May 2020. Faced with depleted industrial supplies, hospital pharmacists initiated internal production of:

  • Alcoholic hand gels and solutions (based on WHO guidelines)
  • Amuchina hand solutions
  • Alcoholic sprays for surface disinfection

Key Outcomes:

  • Weekly output: ~600 bottles (500ml) of hand disinfectant, ~400 bottles of gel.
  • No reported adverse reactions or product recalls.
  • Cost savings compared to industrial counterparts, despite emergency procurement needs.

Overcoming Production Barriers with Innovation

To address severe pandemic-related shortages, the hospital lab took these innovative steps:

  • Repurposed galenic labs to formulate WHO-recommended hand sanitizers.
  • Sourced raw materials such as ethanol, glycerol, hydrogen peroxide, and purified water through rapid procurement networks.
  • Ensured pharmacist safety using personal protective equipment (PPE) and strict quality controls.

The result was a cost-effective and timely supply of essential disinfectants when the commercial market faltered.

Medical Validation and Safety Standard

Production followed European Pharmacopeia (EP) guidelines and WHO formulation protocols:

  • Formulation I: Ethanol 80% v/v, Glycerol 1.45%, Hydrogen Peroxide 0.125%
  • Formulation II: Isopropyl alcohol 75% v/v, Glycerol 1.45%, Hydrogen Peroxide 0.125%

These standards ensured microbial safety, effective disinfection, and high skin tolerance for healthcare workers confirmed by internal monitoring and international literature.

Further Reading

Why This Matters for Future Pandemic Preparedness

This case highlights a scalable model for other advanced and developing nations. Decentralized, hospital-level production ensures:

  • Rapid deployment of disinfectants
  • Reduced dependency on global supply chains
  • Enhanced resilience in public health emergencies

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