Pharmacy Daily | New era for Sigma Healthcare

THE Sigma Pharmaceuticals name is no longer, with the company's shareholders yesterday formally adopting the new Sigma Healthcare name, as flagged by Pharmacy Daily two months ago (PD 08 Mar).

Managing director Mark Hooper said the change "continues our evolution to a more holistic healthcare company," with a new logo (pictured) and a 'Connecting Health Solutions' tag-line that "better captures Sigma's ongoing role in the healthcare industry".

The company's ASX listing code has changed from SIP to SIG effective from today, while Sigma's internet address is also changing to sigmahealthcare.com.au.

All email addresses will align with the new domain, but a re-direction is in place so the old @sigmaco addresses will continue to operate.

During yesterday's Sigma annual general meeting Hooper also confirmed a slowing of sales in the last three months, "driven by a general market softening in sales of OTC products in particular".

He said for Sigma another factor was a strategic decision to sharpen its focus on delivering a consistent brand proposition and customer experience.

"Our focus remains on partnering with brand members who want to be part of a strong brand proposition that puts pharmacists at the centre of supporting community health," Hooper said.

He also told shareholders Sigma was continuing to engage with the government and other stakeholders in relation to the ongoing Review of Pharmacy Remuneration and Regulation.

"Whilst cheaper medicines are good for the government, patients, communities and our health system, a continuation of the current remuneration operating framework is not sustainable longer term," he said.

"As it stands now, less than 105 of medicines are profitable to distribute, and this cannot be sustained longer term," he added, reiterating calls for a pricing floor which would see a wholesale margin applied to a minimum price and which "can be achieved within the existing government estimates".