Smarter, simpler access to non-PBS reimbursed prescription medicines for patients in hospital settings
Akesa has launched Aksys, a digital ordering platform designed to simplify access to non-PBS reimbursed (private script) medicines and indications for Australian patients in hospital settings.
Private scripts are rising steadily in Australia, estimated to account for approximately 15%[1] of the retail prescription market, with similar estimates in hospital settings, illustrating unmet demand in private-funded medicines.
The web-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform provides a single, compliant supply channel for non-PBS reimbursed medicines. “The launch of Aksys marks a step change in how private-script patients access medicines in Australia. Together with pharmaceutical partners like Novartis, Aksys offers hospital institutions, and ultimately patients, enhanced access to medicines, while improving commercial viability and program scalability for manufacturers,” said Nicholas Brittain, Chief Operating Officer at Akesa.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Australia is the first company to enrol in the program. “We are committed to improving access to our innovative medicines, and the launch of Novartis Connect and the Hospital Ordering Program (HOP) earlier this year is an important part of this journey. The HOP simplifies the ordering process for healthcare institutions, like hospitals, and provides direct access to our catalogue of medicines. It’s designed to be used for on-label and non-PBS dispensing through one simple-to-use platform. Partnering with Akesa has enabled a digital-first solution that simplifies the process and eases the administrative burden for hospital teams,” said Marco Muscardo, Ad-interim Country President, Novartis ANZ.
Aksys is designed to:
- Connect manufacturers directly with hospitals: replacing the need for individual arrangements with each of Australia’s 1,000+ public and private hospital institutions. The platform reduces administrative burden for both hospitals and pharmaceutical companies, while enabling reliable access to life-saving medicines.
- Streamline access to medicines: providing a single, end-to-end system for product ordering and fulfilment. This ensures private script medicines are more readily accessible and kept outside PBS claims, easing pressure on the publicly-funded system.
- Expand product portfolios: where traditional models are limited to high-cost medicines, Aksys enables pharmaceutical manufacturers to make a wider range of therapies available to support patient outcomes.
The platform is being rolled out across hospital sites throughout Australia and has already enabled the supply of life-saving therapies in more than 90 public hospitals.
Program expansion
Discussions are underway with other Australian pharmaceutical companies, helping to broaden the ecosystem for private access medicines in Australia.
Joining the program
- Hospitals can register for the Novartis Hospital Ordering Program (HOP) via Novartis Connect.
- Manufacturers can submit an expression of interest via Akesa’s website.
[1] IQVIA. Evolving Beyond the PBS. IQVIA White Paper, 2025. Available at: https://www.iqvia.com/-/media/iqvia/pdfs/australia-and-new-zealand/white-papers/iqvia-anz-evolving-beyond-the-pbs-whitepaper.pdf
Aksys
Aksys is an ordering and fulfillment platform designed for hospital pharmacies and healthcare providers to source non-PBS reimbursed medicines for private-script use. Built to simplify access to specialised therapies, Aksys manages product procurement, payment processing, customer support, and delivery using established channels. Backed by an exclusive partnership with Novartis Australia and expanding to additional manufacturers, Aksys provides a reliable, compliant, and efficient channel for hospitals to access the medicines t
