Today, PHOENIX UK can announce it has invested in a new digital offering which will help independent pharmacies compete against the likes of Pharmacy2U.
PHOENIX UK has acquired for an undisclosed sum, Co-op Health – a popular and successful digital prescription service which enables people to order medication via an app or over the web for collection at a local pharmacy or for home delivery. Demand for the app has grown rapidly in recent years and PHOENIX UK will take it to the next level through its Numark and Rowlands network.
PHOENIX’s ambition is to transform this platform into a must-have digital asset for Numark members. The intention is to create a product that will empower people with choice and help then receive health advice from their local Numark pharmacy when they need it, as well as a highly convenient prescription service.
As Jeremy Meader, Managing Director Numark, says…
“Pharmaceutical care is not simply picking up your prescription or having it delivered at home. People need support and advice when taking medication, particularly if they have multiple medical conditions. That is the critical role which community pharmacy plays as the third pillar in our healthcare system: a pharmacist intervention can quite literally save your life or that of a loved one.
Digital and physical access need to be two sides of the same coin; each complementing and supplementing the other. Too often we see companies offering digital services which seek to bypass and commercially undermine local community pharmacies: we will offer a market-disruptive alternative: bricks & mortar aligned with digital outreach which combines the convenience of online access for patients with the personal face-to-face professional advice people need as medical conditions are quite often complex.
Over the coming months – as part of our stated commitment to members to support them in a digital era – we will evolve and rebrand the Co-op Health platform, building on its recent success. We believe this service innovation will help future-proof Numark members by giving their customers access to a digital product that will provide the convenience of online with the personal and profession care of a local community pharmacy. We also plan to spend time with our PSUK members to understand how this solution could work for them as well”.
Tim Davies, Managing Director of Ventures for Co-op comments:
“The pandemic has rapidly accelerated the demand for online pharmacy services. The Co-op Health app is unique in the market, due to the way it has been developed and its integrations with the NHS.
“Having just launched a couple of years ago, tens of thousands of customers are now registered and using the services, with industry leading satisfaction ratings in the app stores and online review sites.
“The sale we are announcing today to PHOENIX will enable the continued investment, development and evolution of the products and services to further build on the success to date.”