The chief of Australian Pharmaceutical Industries has been advocating for the pharmacy wholesale industry's role in COVID-19 vaccine deployment.
As prescription deliveries boom,operators say they are confident of managing demand amid COVID-19 lockdowns.
Australian Pharmaceutical Industries has called off its pursuit of fellow pharmacy operator and distributor Sigma Healthcare,saying the merger was no longer an attractive proposition.
Sigma Healthcare chairman Brian Jamieson to step down as shareholders deliver a strong vote against the remuneration report.
Sigma will cut about 500 staff this year as part of its plans to generate $100 million in annual cost savings when its Chemist Warehouse contract ends in July.
Sigma Healthcare has rejected an indicative takeover offer from rival Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API),saying the offer is not in the best interest of shareholders.
Sigma Healthcare chief executive Mark Hooper says the pharmaceuticals group"absolutely"has a future as a stand alone company - if it is unable to reach suitable merger terms with Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API).
The backers of the bid for pharmaceutical giant Sigma Healthcare are confident the competition regulator won't knock back their takeover offer for the second time.
Australia's pharmacy industry,already battling lower margins,is bracing for the digital disruption that has upended scores of industries before it.