Generic purchasing is not quite the straightforward process that it may initially appear to be. Simply purchasing on-contract products at the lowest available price may be effective in some situations, but consideration must be given to key factors such as product packaging, label quality, and supply consistency. If inefficient packaging requires the use of additional ADC drawers, labels with scannable data must be added to each package, staff must be trained to repackage product into unit dose, or other products must be regularly sourced to offset supply problems, unit cost alone no longer serves as the most effective purchasing metric.

In addition, managing products on shortage necessitates an ongoing investment in terms of staff time and expertise. Drug shortages are the most common driver for off-contract purchasing, and the downstream effects of purchasing new products to offset shortages are significant. Systems must be in place to implement changes within the EHR, ADCs, smart pumps, master formulation records, etc. Likewise, systems must be in place to readjust those changes once a given shortage has abated.

These challenges impact every hospital pharmacy and underscore the value of the pharmacy buyer role. Whether that position is filled by a pharmacist or technician, it is imperative that these staff members take advantage of the educational opportunities created specifically for them, either at state meetings, via the PTCB continuing education opportunities, or at the Health Connect Partners RxBuyer Conference. These educational opportunities support professional growth, allow for the sharing of best practices, and ultimately encourage excellence in the buyer’s role.

With continuous changes defining the drug purchasing process—from fluctuating payor requirements and complex pre-approval processes, to an expanding biosimilar marketplace and coming drug price negotiations—challenges and opportunities abound for those buyers who excel in their positions. PP&P is committed to sharing the successes of those at the cutting edge of pharmacy purchasing (see page S2) and we invite you to share your successes with us.

All the best,

R. Mitchell Halvorsen

Publisher