Wholesale purchasing

Pharmacies often choose one pharmaceutical wholesaler and esfablish a prime vendor relationship. The prime vendor relationship is an agreement that stipulates that the pharmacy will purchase a set amount of drugs from the wholesaler. In return for guaranteed purchases, wholesalers provide a discormf to fhe pharmacy. As parf of the agreement, wholesalers may provide further discounts based on purchase volume. Some pharmacies might also retain a secondary wholesaler to use as an alternative source of pharmaceuticals. However, purchases from fhe secondary wholesaler are usually kept to a minimum so as not to jeopardize quantity discounts from the primary wholesaler. 

Selection of the type of whole-body dosimeter is important. Inner whole-body dosimeters are usually white, 100% cotton, long underwear purchased from a variety of clothing outlets and stores. One- or two-piece inner whole-body dosimeters are common. Outer whole-body dosimeters can range from hand-made cotton coveralls to shirts and pants bought directly off the shelf at local retail stores. Outer whole-body dosimeters can also be purchased from wholesale clothing outlets. Outer whole-body dosimeters may be any color and may also be 100% cotton or mixed materials, depending on the purpose for which the outer whole-body dosimeter is to be used. For example, one may want to use a coverall as an outer whole-body dosimeter. This would be acceptable even if the coverall were not white and not 100% cotton provided that the fabric did not contain interfering analytical components. 

Improper display temperature Improper handling after wholesale or retail purchase... 

Services (HHS) and spells out research, enforcement, and education requirements. The Prescription Drug Marketing Act prevents the resale of diverted drugs, requires drug wholesalers be licensed, restricts reimportation, and bans the sale, trade, or purchase of drug samples or counterfeit drug coupons. 

Most companies will purchase a range of datasets from a variety of commercial companies who specialise in collecting and collating such data. The sources of information are wide and varied and includes panels of GPs and specialists who record what they are prescribing and for what indication, to information from wholesalers and pharmacists. Companies will also sponsor individual market research studies with questionnaires and face-to-face interviews with individual panels of doctors or focus groups. 

If the herb selected for a given development project is one for which market demand is insufficient to warrant a commercial growing operation, it will probably come from wild sources and will be a spot market purchase subject to variability of price and availability. Probably the best that can be done here is to source from a single wholesaler. 

To establish EAC, most third parties use a standardized drug cost estimate that often is based on average wholesaler price (AWP) or wholesaler acquisition cost (WAC). Theoretically, AWP is the price that the wholesaler charges to pharmacies, but in reality, AWP is the list price rather than the actual price. Just as the sticker price for a car is an overestimate of the price someone actually pays for the car, AWP is an overestimate of the price pharmacies pay for the drug product. A government study found that pharmacies purchase brand-name drug products from the wholesalers at an average rate of AWP less 21.84 percent (OIG, 2001)... 

An alternative way for third parties to establish EAC is to use the WAC. WAC used to be the actual price that drug wholesalers paid to pharmaceutical manufactures to purchase drug products and thus was proprietary information that was unavailable to third parties. Over the years, WAC has evolved to become an alternative list price. Wholesalers now purchase drug products at some percent off the WAC, and there are some standardized WAC lists available for use by third parties, although the information may not be as accessible as the AWP. The EAC typically will be the WAC plus a small percentage. 

Weekly prepay EFT 1.50% Perpetual inventory system, Internet accessible provide inventory management reports If the merchandise is salable and returned within 180 days of purchase date, wholesaler will provide a 100 percent credit. If it is returned after 180 days, only 85 percent credit will be given. Partial bottles, products that are 3 months after date of expiration, and other selected products are nonreturnable. 

Quantity discounts Quantity discounts traditionally have been offered as an incentive for purchasing large quantities of single products or a special grouping of specific products offered by a manufacturer (West, 2003). For example, a wholesaler may sell one bottle... 

Among the many effective mechanisms used by vendors to market their products to pharmacies are salespersons, service representatives, and account representatives. These individuals try diligently to maintain good communications with their clients. Many wholesaler representatives, for example, visit or telephone major purchasers every 2 to 4 weeks. The salesperson or representative serves as an important source of market information consequently, many pharmacy managers make it a practice to talk with salespersons and representatives who call on them. Additionally, talking with the representative keeps them aware of new programs and services offered by the vendor. 

Some large pharmacy chains perform many of the wholesaler s service functions within their own organizations. These chains must assume wholesaler functions, such as purchasing, storing, financing, and delivering products to each of their units. While these chains serve as their own primary vendor, they often still use full-line wholesalers as secondary vendors to obtain selected products or in special circumstances. 

Another option used by pharmacies is to purchase directly from a pharmaceutical manufacturer. However, many manufacturers have substantial minimum purchase requirements, making it less favorable to buy from the manufacturer. Pharmacies may be receiving discounts based on volume purchased from the wholesaler thereby giving an incentive to the pharmacy to buy most of its products from one wholesaler. Wholesalers also offer next-day delivery and other value-added services that help pharmacy managers minimize inventory costs. Thus most pharmacies do not purchase products from manufacturers very often. 

Many wholesalers will provide the hardware and software for the inventory management system. The most current trend is Web-based systems. These allow pharmacy managers to view in real time the quantity on hand at the wholesaler, the list price, the manufacturer backorder status, and the online catalog. These Web-based systems also enable pharmacy staff to check purchase orders, invoices, and account information in real time. Another advantage is that the pharmacy staff can place orders and view account information from other locations besides the pharmacy... 

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