PHARMACEUTICAL wholesaler and retailer Sigma Pharmaceuticals has stepped up warnings that government policy to have drugs available within 24 hours was at risk if other drug companies followed Pfizer in bypassing wholesalers to deal exclusively with pharmacies. Sigma is lobbying for legislative change to ensure that any product listed on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme is made available to wholesalers subject to community service obligations. Under the community service obligations, the government pays wholesalers to deliver drugs on the PBS anywhere in Australia within 24 hours.
