Our Mission
The NPSA is committed to the equitable, timely, reliable and safe delivery of PBS, specialist medicines, vaccines and healthcare products to all Australians. We work proactively with Government and industry partners to ensure Australia’s medicines supply chain is resilient and sustainable. Through our people, strategic investment and innovation, we support primary healthcare nationwide.
We link Australians to PBS and specialist medicines and vaccines they need every day.
Established in 1976, the NPSA is the peak industry body representing Community Service Obligation (CSO) wholesale medicine distributors. For over 100 years, we have been supporting Australians with a strong and dependable supply chain, safeguarding medicine access around the country.
Our members are the vital link between the manufacturers of medicines and more than 5,900 community pharmacies, and hospitals and primary healthcare facilities. It is through the support of the NPSA medicine distribution network that the Government can guarantee every Australian equal, timely, reliable and safe access to their PBS medicines and vaccines across the nation, typically within 24 hours.
As medicine wholesalers, NPSA members operate at the heart of the nation’s health system underpinning Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Our critical role in delivering the PBS is made possible by our direct Pharmaceutical Wholesaler Agreement (PWA) with Government and the Community Service Obligation (CSO). This partnership provides Government with supply chain reliability and ensures timely access to medicines for all.
The criticality of our role in delivering for the Government and the community has been tested in recent years where we have ensured through pandemic, flood and fire – ongoing safe and equitable medicine delivery nationwide.
How Australia's PBS medicines are managed under the CSO
We're working behind the scenes all year round to ensure Australians have access to medicines no matter where they live.
Manufacturing
Around 90% of all medicines in Australia are subsidised by Government under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Most PBS medicines are manufactured and transported to Australia from all over the world.
Pre-wholesale
Medicine manufacturers initially store these medicines at bulk facilities commonly known as 3PLs before they are released into the NPSA national network of Distribution Centres.
NPSA CSO WHOLESALERS
Medicine wholesalers (NPSA members) on behalf of Government procure, store and manage all PBS medicines. These medicines are delivered from 3PLs into our network of 25 secure state-of-the-art Distribution Centres throughout Australia.
PBS medicines whilst under our management are monitored and managed in temperature controlled environments to ensure their safety and quality.
Primary Care
Community pharmacies all over Australia order their PBS medicines from a medicine wholesaler (NPSA member).
Through Government's partnership with medicine wholesalers, via the Pharmaceutical Wholesaler Agreement (PWA) and the Community Service Obligation (CSO), medicines are delivered to pharmacies across the country (metro, rural or remote locations) generally within 24 hours.
Patient Access
No matter whether a patient lives in Carnavon or Cairns they can expect to have their PBS medicines available at their community pharmacy within 24 hours regardless of where they live - as guaranteed under the CSO.
