|
08 December 2008
UNICHEM ANNOUNCES EXCLUSIVE DEAL WITH DRTHOM
UniChem is delighted to announce details of an exclusive
collaboration with DrThom, designed to provide support for independent
community pharmacy services.
This is the first deal of its kind for independent pharmacy, which will enable
independent contractors to offer services for assessment and treatment of a
variety of medical conditions in their pharmacy. These are expected to include
impotence, Chlamydia, herpes, hair loss and acne along with the provision of
routine oral contraception, emergency contraception, smoking cessation
treatments and malaria medication.
The services will be developed based on a dual access model, allowing patients
to request treatment for a particular condition either via their local
independent pharmacy or online via the DrThom website. In each case, the
patient will complete a detailed questionnaire which will be forwarded to
DrThom for assessment. Patients requiring treatment will then receive a private
prescription from DrThom that will be sent to their local independent pharmacy
to be dispensed immediately.
As the Healthcare Commission registered body providing this innovative service,
DrThom will be fully accountable for the clinical appropriateness of
prescribing medicines and will encourage all patients to allow DrThom to inform
their GP of any medicines prescribed. Participating pharmacists will work to
strictly defined standard operating procedures and will need to fulfill their
own professional responsibilities.
DrThom is the only UK medical service registered with the Healthcare Commission
specifically to manage and prescribe for patients remotely. DrThom was founded
in 2002 and has since managed tens of thousands of patients.
This announcement follows comments made by Mike Smith, UniChem Chairman, at the
UniChem Pharmacy Awards in November where he hinted at the upcoming
collaboration between UniChem and DrThom. Mike says: “As an independent
pharmacist I am delighted that we are able to bring such an exclusive offering
for independent pharmacy. This further demonstrates our ongoing commitment to
helping pharmacists develop new and sustainable income streams”.
Dr Thomas Van Every, Medical Director at DrThom said: “DrThom is excited about
the collaboration with UniChem. DrThom hopes that the partnership with UniChem
will help independent community pharmacies provide affordable and convenient
private services that their patients value.”
Mandeep Mudhar, Director of Commercial Services, UniChem, added his support to
the vision outlined by Dr Thomas Van Every saying: “In addition to patient
benefits it is also an opportunity for independent pharmacies to engage in
unique service provision, which will provide a real differential from their
competitors. The dual access model also allows for increased footfall into
community pharmacy. This is a great opportunity to generate a sustainable
private income stream.”
The new service is due to launch in April 2009 and more details will be made
available in the New Year.
For more information please contact:
Helena Bate, Communications Manager, UniChem, 0208 974 4044
Sanam Conway, Communications Executive, UniChem, 0208 974 4045
|