PHARMACY wholesalers believe the broader industry needs to highlight their role as healthcare logistics experts to Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt, to push to for them to be used to distribute COVID-19 vaccines (COVAX).
National Pharmaceutical Services Association (NPSA) Chair, Richard Vincent, told delegates at the Australian Pharmacy Professional Conference (APP) that throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 bushfires, the Community Service Obligation (CSO) wholesalers had supported the distribution of medicines across the country.
"In this industry we have an expertise [and] we have to be at the table when we're talking about supply chain issues and major issues that impact the industry, as we should've been with the vaccine," he said.
"Whilst I know the Pharmacy Guild of Australia recognises what our role is and the value we add, it's obvious that we've a little more work to do with the Health Minister and the Department in that space."
Vincent also praised Pfizer Australia and New Zealand Managing Director, Anne Harris, for the decision to return to the CSO wholesalers (PD 20 May) after close to a decade of direct distribution.
"I think she's shown wisdom in bringing that back to the wholesalers," he said.
"I applaud Pfizer for doing that and I think from a pharmacist's perspective it makes a whole lot of sense having things consolidated through their wholesalers.
"It's a very good move for the industry, it sends a good message about what we should be doing, and we just need the [COVID-19] vaccines to come through the pharmacy wholesalers."
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