DoH seeking CSO feedback
December 8, 2015
The Federal Department of
Health is conducting a Request
for Information (RFI) process in
which it’s inviting the industry
to provide input on the current
and future Community Services
Obligation (CSO) arrangements for
pharmaceutical distributors.
The RFI, which was launched just
over two weeks ago and closes
tomorrow, 09 Dec 2015, targets
feedback from pharmaceutical
wholesalers, organisations or
individuals with an interest in the
pharmaceutical industry, and “other
interested parties associated with
the product delivery industry”.
The Department is asking
stakeholders to identify features
that operate well “and those
features that do not” under the
current CSO operational guidelines,
and the impact of the recent
changes to these guidelines.
It’s also asking for suggestions on
“effective approaches to integrate
NDSS [National Diabetes Services
Scheme] products into the CSO
network, with a particular focus
on identifying any areas in which
the current CSO rules or guidelines
could be modified to accommodate
these products”.
The move follows changes
negotiated as part of the 6th
Community Pharmacy Agreement,
as well as the 2015 Federal Budget
announcement that from 01 Jul
2016 the supply and delivery of
NDSS products would transfer
from Diabetes Australia to the CSO
distribution network.
The RFI confirms that CSO
distributors who were providing
services under the Fifth Agreement
have been extended under the
6CPA until 30 Jun 2016.
“The Department intends to
undertake a formal selection
process to appoint Community
Services Obligation Distributors and
a CSO Administration Agency from
1 July 2016 to 30 June 2020,” the
RFI states, with the consultation
process aiming to establish any
appropriate changes to the CSO
program.
See tenders.gov.au for details.
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