PHARMACEUTICAL wholesalers are set to benefit from a $92 million increase in funding through the Community Service Obligation (CSO) over the next five years.
Under changes to the CSO, which were signed off on by Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt, and Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, George Tambassis, as part of the Seventh Community Pharmacy Agreement (7CPA) last week, also includes the introduction of a "floor price" to support medicines supply through the wholesaler network.
Welcoming the reforms, National Pharmaceutical Services Association (NPSA) Chair, Mark Hooper, said the measure would support wholesalers in ensuring timely and equitable access to medicines during the lifetime of the 7CPA.
"After a decade of declining funding due to the ongoing impact of PBS reform, it has never been more important to invest in the logistics network that is relied upon to deliver medicines to all parts of the country," he said.
"We are very proud of our role in the health system, particularly in recent months as we have overcome the dual challenges of the New Year bushfires and COVID-19 restrictions which placed extraordinary and sustained pressure on our systems.
"Implicit in this new agreement is recognition of the capability and value that the wholesalers provide in supporting government, Australia's PBS, medicine manufacturers and community pharmacy.
"New government funding will allow investment with confidence in things such as distribution centre infrastructure, automation, technology solutions and jobs."
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