INDEPENDENT pharmacy group SmarterPharm has announced it will merge with Pharmacy Alliance, in a move aimed at boosting resources and support for members (PD breaking news yesterday).
The deal will see Pharmacy Alliance expand to 650 member pharmacies Australia-wide.
SmarterPharm said Pharmacy Alliance was the "logical choice for providing members with a sustainable and progressive opportunity to navigate industry change to maximise profitability, as well as providing the flexibility to retain pharmacy individuality and independence."
SmarterPharm ceo Karen Duncan said it had been a pleasure to see the group grow to 130 members.
With significant PBS reforms ongoing, SmarterPharm had sought a partner in 2016 to best resource support for member pharmacies.
"Due to industry change we have had to make a significant decision to protect the interests of our members," Duncan said.
"I am confident that the partnership with Pharmacy Alliance will achieve this as we both have a strong alignment in values with both organisations fiercely protective of independent pharmacy, are own/operated by pharmacists and both groups have a strong relationship with our wholesale partner Sigma," she said.
Pharmacy Alliance ceo Darren Dye said, "We are thrilled to welcome SmarterPharm members to the Pharmacy Alliance family.
"It will allow Pharmacy Alliance even greater scale to provide another level of improved solutions to help all pharmacists and supplier partners overcome industry change, and continue to develop member solutions to create sustainable pharmacy models".
The SmarterPharm/Pharmacy Alliance agreement is the latest move in pharmacy sector consolidation, which last year also saw Terry White Chemists merge with Chemmart to form the Terry White Chemmart powerhouse.
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