TORONTO — McKesson Corp.’s $2.2 billion deal to acquire Rexall Health from Katz Group will strengthen the drug distributor’s position in Canada’s pharmaceutical supply chain. McKesson said the agreement is a natural next step for two companies that have worked together for over 20 years. In 2012, McKesson bought Katz’s 1,100-store banner operation covering I.D.A.,
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Two years removed from its all-time high, customer satisfaction with the retail sector — including drug chains — has fallen for a second consecutive year. Fourth quarter data from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) show a slide of 2.6% to 74.8 on a 100-point scale. Despite the decline for 2015,
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — London Drugs vice president of pharmacy John Tse said the chain is exploring the idea of selling legal marijuana through its 79 pharmacies in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. “When it gets classified as a legal product, Health Canada will most likely regulate it, because there are regulated producers as
WASHINGTON — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores is urging the Senate to pass legislation that it says would spur collaboration among health and enforcement authorities for drug abuse solutions “that maintain patients’ legitimate access to medications” while fighting opioid abuse. The trade organization supports the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act
WASHINGTON — National Association of Chain Drug Stores president and chief executive officer Steve Anderson has been selected as the 2016 Trade Association CEO of the Year by an independent panel of association leadership experts. Anderson is only the third CEO to receive this award, which is presented by CEO Update magazine. Previous honorees were
FLINT, Mich. — Diplomat Pharmacy has announced three promotions within the company’s executive leadership team. Atheer Kaddis has been appointed executive vice president of sales and strategic alignment, a position in which he coordinates Diplomat’s strategies within the business units. Lance Neill has been named senior vice president of corporate services and is responsible for
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has ruled that health insurers do not have to share data, including information about how much they pay for medical claims, with state agencies. The 6-2 decision is seen as a blow to state government efforts to track health care costs within their jurisdictions. The case involved a Vermont law
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Health says that prescription drug trend for its pharmacy benefit management clients dropped to 5% in 2015 from a high of 11.8% in 2014. The trend drivers — including brand, specialty and generic price inflation — were similar to what was seen in 2014, but CVS Health asserts that its pharmacy
MARKHAM, Ontario — Pharmasave Ontario Ltd. is continuing its steady expansion. Part of the Pharmasave Drugs National Ltd. cooperative, Pharmasave Ontario plans to open seven new stores in the first quarter. Several other stores are slated for late spring openings. New Pharmasave locations are opening in East York and Lakeshore in Toronto, and two are
LAS VEGAS — The Chain Drug Marketing Association’s 90th annual Trade Expo was hailed by participants as one of the organization’s best. “CDMA continues to hit it out of the park,” said Lanny Doud, executive director of QualityCare Pharmacies. Between the quality suppliers, social networking and entertainment that included a 1920s-themed gala, the show “couldn’t
LOVELAND, Colo. — Good Day Pharmacy said it had been named best in class by OutcomesMTM, a Cardinal Health company that designs, delivers and administers medication therapy management programs. Good Day Pharmacy is an independently owned pharmacy chain under the Health Mart umbrella. It operates nine pharmacies in northern Colorado and employs 133 people. “The
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Blood pressure kiosks in retail pharmacies are a key focus of an international effort by hypertension organizations to tighten the regulation of consumer BP devices. PharmaSmart International reported that 21 international hypertension organizations have published a joint statement urging the private health care sector and governments to address the issue of inaccurate
ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores announced that Vonnie Hampel has been hired as the association’s new director of federal government affairs. Hampel most recently worked as senior legislative assistant, press secretary and manager of health policy issues for Iowa Democratic Rep. Dave Loebsack. “Vonnie brings the policy, politics and press
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. has begun making talking prescription devices available to help its pharmacy customers with visual impairments. The drug chain said earlier this month that the devices, available at all of its approximately 4,600 stores, will be offered free upon request to customers who are blind or visually impaired. “It’s
