20 Jul 2010

Pharmacy Brands in talks with Govt

7:07 am on 20 July 2010

Pharmacy Brands is in talks with the Government to administer vaccines and provide more health screening in its pharmacies, to counter a fall in retail spending by customers.

Pharmacy Brands merged with Life Pharmacies last year. It owns the Amcal and Unichem franchises.

With $10 million in cash in the bank, it says it also plans to buy and invest in more chemist stores this year.

But chief executive Alan Wham says a recent shake-up in the health sector means there are new opportunities for pharmacies to provide more primary health care services.

He says some vaccinations are given by pharmacists in the United States and Britain.

Mr Wham says Pharmacy Brands has no plans to pay a dividend this, or next, financial year, as it wants to use its cash reserves to expand the business.