The Galenica Group will acquire the entire share capital of the Swiss pharmacy MediService Ltd. Based on its original activity as a traditional provider of prescription medication, MediService has developed the Pharma Care programme, a unique concept in Switzerland tailored specifically to the needs of the chronically ill and patients with rare diseases. The programme encompasses a complete range of therapeutic home care: from the delivery of highly specialised medication through to the provision of treatment advice and support for patients in the home by medically qualified staff. Pharma Care is focused on the fast-growing market of specialised medication and patients with extensive care requirements. Galenica will thus gain access to a forward-looking niche market and expand its range of pharmacy formats.
Pharma Care – unique model for home-based therapy support
MediService was the first pharmacy in Switzerland to deliver prescription medication to customers at home. Over the past few years, the company has repositioned itself and developed the Pharma Care programme, a therapy support model that focuses specifically on providing care and support to seriously ill patients. Today, MediService is a specialist healthcare company that operates in a very specific but also extremely high-growth niche market.
Pharma Care is aimed specifically at chronically ill patients, organ transplantees and sufferers of rare diseases such as multiple sclerosis, haemophilia (blood defect) or rare metabolic diseases. These patients often have restricted mobility and require expensive drugs and therapies which are extremely sensitive in terms of storage and/or complex to administer. MediService not only delivers this highly specialised medication to patients’ doors, but also provides qualified medical staff to care for them at home. As such, patients are assured the medication, application systems and diagnostics they require, together with care by qualified nursing staff, as part of a comprehensive therapy support package.Patients are offered a complete range of home treatment services which even includes infusion of their medication either at home or work. The integrated pharmaceutical therapy also comprises administrative support and medical insurance advice, such as clarification with manufacturers, doctors and health insurers.
Home care offers optimum safety and helps save on costs
The services provided by MediService offer patients safety and help them comply with their therapy and take their high-value medications correctly. The concept of supporting patients in their own homes makes Pharma Care an efficient form of care provision with attractive potential: the Pharma Care high-value medications for complex therapies is growing fast. The success of Pharma Care also reflects the high and rising customer needs of specific patient groups. It works in close collaboration with doctors, pharmacists, patient and home care organisations, pharmaceutical manufacturers and health insurers.
MediService complements Galenica’s existing pharmacy formats
The acquisition of MediService and in particular the unique therapy support package Pharma Care will secure Galenica access to a high-growth, forward-looking niche market and complement its existing traditional pharmacy formats Amavita, Coop Vitality and Winconcept with a new, highly specific business model. Through the home delivery of prescription medication and integrated therapy support, Galenica will in future offer patients a full, high-quality service. Patients suffering from rare and serious chronic diseases require very particular assistance, which only specialised organisations such as MediService are able to offer on a comprehensive scale. However, the two formats will benefit from one another: in the Managed Care and Disease Management sector in particular, the interdisciplinary approach and the effective combination of the patient’s doctor, local pharmacist, delivery of medication and home care will play an increasingly important role as time goes on.
The original Pharma Direct Service activity will continue to operate in parallel with Pharma Care, MediService’s current core business. The two business sectors are closely linked and Pharma Direct Service’s infrastructure and logistics make it an integral part of the Pharma Care range of services and thus an important basis for future development.
MediService Ltd. was founded in 1997 and now employs a staff of around 95, half of whom are specialists with pharmaceutical training. In 2006, the company generated sales of CHF 88.4 million. In the first half of 2007, MediService increased its net sales by 10.7% to CHF 44.1 million (previous year CHF 39.8 million), the Pharma Direct Service and Pharma Care divisions grew by +2.6%. and +22.6%respectively over this period.
MediService will be integrated into the Retail business sector of the Galenica Group. Dr. Jürg Th.Gasser who has successfully developed MediService over the past few years, will continue to run the company.
No details of the transaction price have been disclosed.
Pharma Care – unique model for home-based therapy support
MediService was the first pharmacy in Switzerland to deliver prescription medication to customers at home. Over the past few years, the company has repositioned itself and developed the Pharma Care programme, a therapy support model that focuses specifically on providing care and support to seriously ill patients. Today, MediService is a specialist healthcare company that operates in a very specific but also extremely high-growth niche market.
Pharma Care is aimed specifically at chronically ill patients, organ transplantees and sufferers of rare diseases such as multiple sclerosis, haemophilia (blood defect) or rare metabolic diseases. These patients often have restricted mobility and require expensive drugs and therapies which are extremely sensitive in terms of storage and/or complex to administer. MediService not only delivers this highly specialised medication to patients’ doors, but also provides qualified medical staff to care for them at home. As such, patients are assured the medication, application systems and diagnostics they require, together with care by qualified nursing staff, as part of a comprehensive therapy support package.Patients are offered a complete range of home treatment services which even includes infusion of their medication either at home or work. The integrated pharmaceutical therapy also comprises administrative support and medical insurance advice, such as clarification with manufacturers, doctors and health insurers.
Home care offers optimum safety and helps save on costs
The services provided by MediService offer patients safety and help them comply with their therapy and take their high-value medications correctly. The concept of supporting patients in their own homes makes Pharma Care an efficient form of care provision with attractive potential: the Pharma Care high-value medications for complex therapies is growing fast. The success of Pharma Care also reflects the high and rising customer needs of specific patient groups. It works in close collaboration with doctors, pharmacists, patient and home care organisations, pharmaceutical manufacturers and health insurers.
MediService complements Galenica’s existing pharmacy formats
The acquisition of MediService and in particular the unique therapy support package Pharma Care will secure Galenica access to a high-growth, forward-looking niche market and complement its existing traditional pharmacy formats Amavita, Coop Vitality and Winconcept with a new, highly specific business model. Through the home delivery of prescription medication and integrated therapy support, Galenica will in future offer patients a full, high-quality service. Patients suffering from rare and serious chronic diseases require very particular assistance, which only specialised organisations such as MediService are able to offer on a comprehensive scale. However, the two formats will benefit from one another: in the Managed Care and Disease Management sector in particular, the interdisciplinary approach and the effective combination of the patient’s doctor, local pharmacist, delivery of medication and home care will play an increasingly important role as time goes on.
The original Pharma Direct Service activity will continue to operate in parallel with Pharma Care, MediService’s current core business. The two business sectors are closely linked and Pharma Direct Service’s infrastructure and logistics make it an integral part of the Pharma Care range of services and thus an important basis for future development.
MediService Ltd. was founded in 1997 and now employs a staff of around 95, half of whom are specialists with pharmaceutical training. In 2006, the company generated sales of CHF 88.4 million. In the first half of 2007, MediService increased its net sales by 10.7% to CHF 44.1 million (previous year CHF 39.8 million), the Pharma Direct Service and Pharma Care divisions grew by +2.6%. and +22.6%respectively over this period.
MediService will be integrated into the Retail business sector of the Galenica Group. Dr. Jürg Th.Gasser who has successfully developed MediService over the past few years, will continue to run the company.
No details of the transaction price have been disclosed.
