In a vast high-tech distribution centre on the western fringe of Melbourne, storeperson Myo is overseeing the dispatch of an order of PBS medicines. It\u2019s 4.30 pm and the tote is about to be loaded onto waiting transport because it\u2019s headed for a town hundreds of kilometres away in rural Victoria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The medicines have been ordered online just hours earlier by the town\u2019s community pharmacy. This happens daily and the order is always different depending on the needs of the local community. And today the order has been handpicked and carefully packed by Ja Seng. The inventory is an array of products that could be destined for a rural cancer patient, a child with an infection or an elderly person being treated for pain. The delivery will arrive in the pharmacy early the next morning in time for dispensing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The role of CSO medicine wholesalers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Myo and Ja Seng are part of a team of more than 3,400 people who work for the CSO medicine wholesalers, whose job it is to manage and safely distribute 2 million medicines into community pharmacies each day, right across Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The CSO wholesalers\u2019 role is not well known but is of vital importance to the health of rural Australians. Established in 2006, the Community Service Obligation (CSO) is a direct agreement between the Commonwealth Government and participating medicine wholesalers. It guarantees that all Australians, regardless of where they live, have timely, equitable and reliable access to available PBS medicines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n