Group purchasing: evaluating groups

Factors that should be considered when a pharmaceutical group purchasing program is being evaluated are discussed and presented in checklist format. The ability to purchase at maximum effectiveness is critical in today's healthcare environment. There are a number of group purchasing programs in which pharmacists participate, and this business is in a state of flux. Cost savings is the most obvious factor to determine in evaluating a program, but group purchasing is a service business and there are numerous additional considerations. A list of questions that may be used as a checklist for rating one group purchasing program against another is provided. Pharmacy departments should consider the type of group purchasing program, its interactions with suppliers, services offered, input of participants, and costs when evaluating pharmaceutical group purchasing programs.