Unfortunately many items were reduced due to budget cuts... Lab and Lib cuts... all the same, forgetting that one day we'll need those supplies.They did ordinarily carry supplies of more mundane pharmacy drugs as well, and I thought they still did
The 13 May 2014, the Australian Government announced funding of $15.4 million over four years for reform activities as part of the Reinforcing Australia’s Health Protection Budget Measure.The reform agenda includes:
- the negotiation of a new national stockpiling agreement between the Commonwealth and states and territories to revise roles and responsibilities and to determine pre-agreed rules for emergency access to Stockpile inventory;
- changes to deployment arrangements involving the pre-positioning of small reserves of inventory with front line health services to reduce operational risk and logistical requirements during emergencies;
- transition to a ‘Prime Vendor’ model of operation in 2015-16, involving the outsourcing of the day-to-day management of the Stockpile under the strategic direction of the Department; and
- implementation of a new four year strategic planning cycle for the Stockpile which will include more regular reporting on inventory and capabilities; and
- piloting of new inventory supply arrangements, including broader application of stock rotation and right to buy inventory arrangements (where cost effective and with due consideration of risk).
The reforms will reduce waste and duplication, cut red tape in an emergency and improve the cost effectiveness of national stockpiling arrangements.
For more information on the reform activities please contact the Department at Stockpile Ops.
This was a good move. I hadn't been aware of this reform... the only problem, IMO, is the out-sourcing of management of the stockpile... outsourcing management by the Abbott govt resulted in many "outsourced" public servant position costing extra for the same people in consultancy roles according to the Audit Review in 2018.
But the rest of the agenda? excellent.
Scott.
