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NCL
NCL
New Clicks Holdings - New pharmacy dispensing regulations
New Clicks Holdings Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 1996/000645/06)
JSE share code: NCL
ISIN: ZAE000014585
("New Clicks")
NEW CLICKS WELCOMES NEW PHARMACY DISPENSING REGULATIONS
New Clicks has welcomed the pharmacy dispensing fee regulations announced by
the Department of Health today, saying the new four-tiered pricing structure
will bring much-needed stability to retail pharmacists and clarity to
consumers.
New Clicks chief executive, David Kneale, said the collaborative process
followed by the Department of Health (DoH) has resulted in a workable and
transparent pricing model that provides a fair return to pharmacists and
certainly benefits consumers.
"It is now critical that we have stability in the pharmacy sector which has
been operating in an environment of uncertainty for far too long. This has
negatively affected the pharmacy profession which is crucial to the delivery
of healthcare in this country."New Clicks subsidiary Clicks operates the
largest retail pharmacy network in the country, with 110 dispensaries in its
stores nationally.
Michael Harvey, managing director of Clicks, said "we have always supported
the Government"s move to make medicine more affordable and accessible to
consumers, and improve the efficiency and quality of healthcare delivery."
"New Clicks has had valuable interaction with the DoH on this issue and we
believe the new dispensing fee balances low and high cost medication."
He said the new regulations prescribe a maximum dispensing fee and "this
allows Clicks the flexibility to be even more price competitive. In addition,
we will continue to offer value-added benefits to customers such as our Clicks
ClubCard loyalty programme."
Clicks will be implementing the new dispensing fee structure within the
timeframe outlined by the DoH and as soon as systems can be adapted.
"The uncertainty of the past 18 months has not been good for consumers. Clicks
adopted the R26/26% dispensing fee contained in the draft pricing regulations,
without levying any additional administrative fees. However, many pharmacists
appear to have charged far higher fees to the detriment of consumers," he
said.
Cape Town
31 October 2006
Issued by Tier 1 Investor Relations on behalf of New Clicks
For further information contact
Tier 1 Investor Relations
Tel (021) 702-3102
Sponsor
Investec Bank Limited
Date: 31/10/2006 04:10:48 PM Produced by the JSE SENS Department
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