THE Health Department has advised that the "Invitation To Apply" (ITA) process for the Community Service Obligation (CSO) Funding Pool is expected to be released tomorrow.
A formal notice issued overnight on the Government's Austender site says the ITA process aims to "identify organisations that have the capacity and capability to participate as CSO Distributors and meet key service standards related to the timely, efficient and affordable supply of PBS medicines and NDSS products to community pharmacies across Australia".
The CSO Funding Pool aims to ensure arrangements are in place to provide all Australians with ongoing and timely access to PBS medicines via their community pharmacy, supporting wholesalers to deliver items regardless of pharmacy location and the relative cost of supply.
The hotly anticipated tender documents follow a review process (PD 13 Jun 2018), with the industry keen to see how the CSO will evolve in the current landscape where some manufacturers are bypassing the system with exclusive direct supply arrangements of some items.
There's also speculation that the CSO pool could expand to incorporate logistics operator DHL (PD 06 Aug), with the current CSO deeds expiring on 31 Dec 2018.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 29 Nov 18
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