Pfizer extends order hours
July 18, 2011
PFIZER has announced a further
tweak to its controversial direct
distribution system, extending the
cut-off time for orders to qualify for
next day delivery.
The previous deadline was 1pm,
but effective from today electronic
orders can be placed before 3pm,
while telephone/fax orders can be
placed by 2pm Mon-Fri to be
delivered on the next business day.
Items on the critical product list
can also now be ordered by 3pm,
with Pfizer Australia md John
Latham saying the changes were
due to pharmacy feedback and
discussions with the Guild.
“Our goal is to deliver our
medicines in a timely and reliable
manner so that they reach
Australian consumers where and
when they need them,” he said.
The change follows sustained
opposition to the Pfizer Direct
system, led by the National
Pharmaceutical Services Association
which is urging the government to
intervene to ensure that PBS
medicines are also available via full
line wholesalers.
Latham said Pfizer was working
with the Guild to ensure that
appropriate standards are upheld,
claiming that the company’s
(confidential) agreement with the
Guild “sets very similar rigorous
standards to those outlined in the
Community Service Obligation”.
He said that in the first five
months Pfizer Direct had fulfilled
almost 220,000 orders, of which
over 99.5% had been “delivered in
full and on time.
“From day one we have
responded to customer feedback,
and we continue to make ongoing
enhancements to our processes,”
Latham added, with Pfizer
“committed to the supply of its
own medicines in Australia.
“We do not seek to become a full
line wholesaler and we are not
claiming any of the government’s
CSO...despite this we guarantee
next business day delivery to all but
17 remote pharmacies in Australia.”
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