Monday, December 3, 2007

Drug delivery firm now in Davao; makes P400M in 2006



A Philippine company which has pioneered in the delivery of medications all over Metro Manila and Metro Cebu is now in Davao City.

MedExpress is like your ordinary drugstore but the main difference is that they do not sell their medicines physically. Instead, customers can just dial their 225-55-55 Hotline for Davao City and they will be immediately connected to the drugstore’s Call Center in Manila.

“There are at least three benefits one can get from the MedExpress Drug Store,” MedExpress business development manager Carlo Lorenzana told members of the media during the Davao Press Club Kapehan held at SM’s Cafe Rysus yesterday.

One of these benefits, he said, is convenience since customers can order their medicines through the Hotline number and then have their orders delivered for free provided the bill reaches P700 or above. For purchases below P700, the drugstore charges a delivery fee of P30, but with a P70 discount on the first delivery purchase.

The company, which has earned P400 million in revenues in 2006, boasts of having a call center that is operated by licensed Pharmacists. This allows them to provide medication counseling to their clients every time they purchase a prescription medicine. Aside from that, Lorenzana said, the drugstore also has a medication compliance program which reminds clients when they have to replenish their maintenance medication.

“We also keep a confidential medication history of our clients which means we keep a record of the medicines purchased from us which can be accessed by the customer when needed,” he said.

The delivery drugstore also accepts credit cards as their delivery personnel have wireless terminals for credit card verification. They also give the legally required discounts to senior citizens provided the patient submits a copy of their Senior Citizens ID for one-time verification.

MedExpress is the outsource pharmacy of PLDT and San Miguel so they are also planning to put up a drive through outlet for their Davao clients. It has seven branches in Metro Manila and one each in Cebu, Davao and Jakarta, which is franchised outlet.

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