PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technician (PTCE)Order Entry and ProcessingMedium
A pharmacy technician needs to order a medication that is only available through a specific wholesaler due to a limited distribution program. Which type of purchasing system is being utilized in this scenario?
- ADirect purchasing
- BGroup Purchasing Organization (GPO)
- CPrime Vendor purchasing
- DJust-in-Time (JIT) purchasing
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Direct purchasing
Direct purchasing involves buying medications directly from the manufacturer or a specific authorized distributor, bypassing a primary wholesaler. This is common for specialty drugs, limited distribution drugs, or those requiring specific handling.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Incorrect. A GPO leverages collective buying power for discounts, but the medication is still purchased through a distributor, not directly from the manufacturer in this specific scenario.
- C. Incorrect. Prime vendor involves buying most products from one main wholesaler, which is not the case here for a single, specific medication.
- D. Incorrect. JIT is an inventory strategy to minimize stock, not a purchasing channel.
Direct Purchasing
A purchasing method where a pharmacy buys medications directly from the manufacturer or a designated, limited distributor, often for specialty or restricted drugs.
- Bypasses traditional wholesalers.
- Common for specialty drugs, limited distribution drugs (LDDs), or vaccines.
- Requires direct contracts with manufacturers.
- Can streamline supply chain for specific products.
Memory trick: Prime for bulk, GPO for deals, Direct for specialty.