Pharmacy Daily | Amcal+ Life Clinic launch

SIGMA Healthcare yesterday confirmed the upcoming debut of a new Amcal+ Life Clinic pharmacy format, with the first concept store under the brand expected to be fully operational within eight weeks in Burwood, Vic.

The Amcal+ Life Clinic format expands health services provided in the community, including "extensive consultation suites to incorporate allied health services," according to CEO Mark Hooper, who detailed the initiative at the company's annual general meeting.

Hooper also confirmed that Sigma's "well-managed wind-down of supply to Chemist Warehouse" was proceeding to plan.

The cessation of the Chemist Warehouse contract on 30 Jun will see about 300 jobs lost, as well as providing the catalyst for Sigma's "Project Pivot" which has seen the company review its entire operations and structure.

Over $100 million in efficiency gains have been identified as achievable over two years, with Hooper saying follow-up analysis from the initial estimates had "given us great confidence that the benefits are real, are achievable, and are commercially sensible".

He noted the success of Sigma in the latest tender for the Community Service Obligation funding pool, adding that engagement with both major political parties in the lead up to this Sat's Federal Election had been encouraging in terms of recognition of the important role played by CSO distributors in supporting the health of the nation.

Hooper said Sigma's community pharmacy network continued to perform well, highlighting the Whole Life Pharmacy and Health Foods differentiated pharmacy model launched by Discount Drug Stores, with nine such outlets now operating in Qld, WA and NSW.

For the three months to 31 Mar 2019 like-for-like sales in Sigma's own brands are up more than 4%, he said, with Amcal performing particularly well and a "healthy pipeline of prospective members" alongside "good signs of growth" in Sigma's independent community pharmacy offer.