DISCOUNT Drug Stores (DDS) this week announced new initiatives and technological advancements at its tenth national conference, in Noumea, New Caledonia, including a new pain management program, the launch of a health food and organics project, partnerships with script reminder service MedAdvisor and the implementation of its Next Generation Retail Platform powered by FRED NXT (PD breaking news yesterday).
In the face of PBS reforms and the challenges of a relatively stagnant retail market, DDS said it aimed to continue leading the way in new customer service developments and dispensary workflow innovations, which had already seen the brand maintain its GP% and grow its total sales 2.9% excluding high cost drugs.
Discount Pharmacy Retail Group gm Douglas Kuskopf-Dallas told delegates the company's investment into new initiatives allowed the brand to adapt to the challenging times of the industry and better serve its customers.
"Our focus is to deliver the highest standard of healthcare advice and deliver industry leading professional services such as our newly launched pain management program, which no other pharmacy group is currently offering, and our diabetes management program which helps pharmacists tap into the 6CPA funding and meet community healthcare needs," Kuskopf-Dallas said.
"We are continuing to leverage our Dispensary Ready program by introducing new training programs to help our stores improve their dispensary workflow, freeing our pharmacists up to spend more time with customers," he added.
A new health food and organics category will see the brand move towards its goal of becoming a total holistic healthcare destination.
"There is a continual need to meet the ever-changing requirements and demands of our customers, and we're excited to see the integration of this new holistic healthcare project into our network of existing stores," he said.
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