DISTRIBUTING the full range of PBS products to anywhere in Australia and generally within 24 hours, is the key deliverable for the Community Services Agreement (CSO) and needs to be valued, says the National Pharmaceutical Services Association (NPSA).
NPSA Chairman Mark Hooper said the organisation "echoes recent sentiments expressed by Medicines Australia in relation to creating unity across the healthcare sector to ensure that the system remains on stable footing, however has warned of undervaluing the role of CSO wholesalers".
Based on studies commissioned by the NPSA, in Australia wholesale distribution costs, including the cost of the CSO, account for just 6.5% of the total PBS spend and 80% of products are distributed for less than the cost of a postage stamp.
"Australia has a world-class healthcare system and a key part of this is the National Medicines Policy, which functions to ensure that everyone in the country can have affordable and timely access to medicines," Hooper said.
"NPSA members play a critical role in this by upholding the standards of the CSO, a large part of which is the requirement to be able to deliver the full range of PBS products to anywhere in Australia and generally within 24 hours.
"The ongoing sustainability of this system, which has provided substantial benefits for patients, pharmacists and government since its introduction in 2006, relies however, on mutual support across the sector."
Hooper expressed the organisation's concern around exclusive-direct distribution arrangements, which have been shown to "undermine patient access and add unnecessary complexity for pharmacists".
NPSA called upon politicians of all persuasions to protect the principles of the National Medicines Policy.
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