Chemists square up to big guys
Mom-and-pop pharmacies have picked a fight with the big medical aid schemes, saying the schemes should not force their members to buy medicines only at outlets of large retail pharmacy groups. The Independent Community Pharmacy Association says some medical aids limit the outlets at which their members can buy medicines, insisting that they buy from large retail pharmacy groups such as Clicks and Dis-Chem.The association wants members of medical aids on whom such a restriction has been imposed to sign a petition demanding change.People who use pharmacies other than those approved by their scheme might be liable for a co-payment.But Discovery Health CEO Jonathan Broomberg denies that his scheme excluded independent pharmacies."Discovery is contracted to more than 1800 independent community pharmacies, which comprise 73% of all our designated service provider pharmacies."Bonitas says it has agreements with the big groups: "The larger the pharmacy, the greater buying negotiation [power] they have and the cheaper the medicine."The association's petition is on website Avaaz...
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