DHL Exel Supply Chain, part of the world's leading logistics company, has launched in Australia; DHL Pharmacy Supply, the direct to pharmacy pharmaceutical distribution business. Supported by a five-year contract DHL Pharmacy Supply will offer a 24 hour pharmaceutical distribution service to community pharmacies across the nation. Using its comprehensive distribution network, DHL Pharmacy Supply is contracted to deliver Government-subsidized Prescription Benefit Scheme (PBS) medicines from pharmaceutical manufacturers to approximately 5,000 pharmacies throughout metropolitan, regional and rural areas of Australia.

Ferret reported that DHL Exel Supply Chain will deliver the direct to pharmacy service by leveraging its existing pre-wholesale network capability and its storage and material handling systems in its new 20,000 sq m pharmaceutical distribution facility at Greystanes, Sydney. DHL has invested heavily in developing a national capability at Greystanes in order to deliver a more efficient order fulfillment pre-wholesale operation to the pharmaceutical sector, enabling direct to market business. The project will utilize approximately 7,150 square meters for order picking from seven distribution facilities around the country.

The regional distribution centers will share existing site management, transport and security infrastructure, amenities and office areas. A new metro carton delivery fleet will be established in each of the larger states combining the current carton delivery services and pharmacy direct services to achieve the most efficient solution. As part of the initiative, DHL Exel Supply Chain has invested in the Oracle Order Management System and Oracle Financials to deliver an order to cash functionality and a web based ordering system to roll out. DHL Exel supply chain has also established a direct to pharmacy customer service team managing the pharmacy and hospital customers through a call center. The dedicated direct to pharmacy supply team will manage order capture, CRM, warehousing and distribution, information management, billing, credit control and returns on behalf of pharmaceutical manufacturers.