“The presence of a contract does not predict whether a product will be ordered, only that an agreed price has already been negotiated should that product be required,” a Health Department spokesman said.
The Tasmanian Advocate Reports…
Tasmanian hospitals and Ambulance Tasmania might not use medicinal cannabis often, or at all, any time soon, despite a new supply agreement.
According to the Epilepsy Foundation, Dravet syndome is rare, drug-resistant and leads to prolonged seizures.
That appeared consistent with the department’s views.
“The presence of a contract does not predict whether a product will be ordered, only that an agreed price has already been negotiated should that product be required,” a Health Department spokesman said.
He said the department had a pharmaceutical products tendering process every two years.
“This tender covers a range of pharmaceutical products which may need to be accessed by government health facilities during the contracted period,” he said.
“Government purchasing principles expect that products meeting certain financial thresholds and/or those presenting exceptional risks (such as security of supply) to be suitably covered by an appropriate purchasing arrangement/contract.