Demonstrating its commitment to community health on a global scale, the Independent Pharmacies of Australia Group (IPA) proudly announces its partnership with Growing Cambodia, a registered Australian charity dedicated to enhancing education in rural Cambodian schools. Through this collaboration, IPA has successfully funded the construction of a new school in the Beng community in the Siem Reap region.

Steven Kastrinakis, Pharmacist, Founder, and Managing Director of IPA, expressed his pride in the initiative, noting, “It’s a proud and humbling experience to contribute to a community and children who face the challenges of poverty, especially after being present at the opening of the school in Cambodia on May 6th. Education is one of the foundational pillars of health, and I am extremely proud that IPA has been able to play a part in opening this school.”

IPA’s fundraising, amounting to $55,000, culminated in the school’s inauguration on May 6th, marking a significant milestone in IPA’s global outreach. The School Project includes two fully-equipped classrooms, one designated for computer education and the other serving as a library. Additionally, IPA has facilitated the establishment of a kitchen facility and washing area, addressing essential needs such as proper nutrition and hygiene often lacking in rural villages.

Beyond infrastructure development, the initiative prioritizes providing quality education to enhance English skills, crucial for economic empowerment, while also addressing challenges such as proper nutrition and hygiene often lacking in rural villages. With 280 students enrolled, the school offers brighter prospects in a region where proficiency in English can lead to higher wages. IPA ensures student safety and attendance by providing transportation, while sustaining the educational environment through resource allocation, including teacher salaries and technology donations. Thanks to a generous donation from MedAdvisor, IPA acquired 17 laptops, further enhancing teaching standards and facilitating teacher training sessions.

James Reid, Head of Apex Implementation at IPA, expressed, “Our collaboration with Growing Cambodia reflects IPA’s commitment to improving lives and fostering socio-economic development through education and infrastructure investment.” This project exemplifies IPA’s dedication to fostering positive change locally and globally, empowering the Beng community and ensuring a brighter future for its children.

We believe supporting communities locally and internationally is important to helping them thrive. We are inspired by the commitment of Growing Cambodia’s founders and patrons to educating rural Cambodians.

Growing Cambodia aims to facilitate a self-sufficient and sustainable quality of life for rural Cambodians through education and enhancement of health and well-being. Growing Cambodia’s efforts focus on education to empower the current generation to improve their living standards as it helps individuals make more informed choices about their future.

A key to the education program is teaching English to enhance employment opportunities in the expanding tourism and business sectors.

Enjoy a coffee at Victoria Park Broadbeach APP2024 and donate

To raise funds for Growing Cambodia, we have a Coffee Van at Victoria Park, Broadbeach (on the corner of Gold Coast Highway and Victoria St, diagonally across from APP2024 at GCCEC)

Drop by to meet the team, grab a coffee and a croissant

• Thurs 14 March – 7-11am
• Fri 15 March – 6.30-10.30am

You can either donate via the donation box or via EFTPOS.

Thank you for the support of two great local businesses

• Cactus Coffee for their great organic, locally grown and roasted coffee from Mt Tamborine
• Bakers Delight Broadbeach for their freshly baked croissants

Thank you to the City of Gold Coast for their support in allowing us to have the Coffee Van at Victoria Park.

What an incredible week it was at APP2024! We are thrilled to have unveiled our new brand, Independent Pharmacies of Australia (IPA), which has been met with immense enthusiasm and resonance within the pharmacy industry. This marks a significant milestone for us, promising a future of enhanced support and flexibility to empower you, our members, in achieving your goals.

Before we delve into the highlights, we want to congratulate Chemist Discount Centre Gosnells and Narrabri Pharmacy on being finalists for Pharmacy of the Year 2024. A big congratulations also goes to Narrabri Pharmacy on receiving the “Excellence in Professional Innovation award”. Their outstanding achievement exemplifies their dedication to serving the local community, and we are immensely proud to celebrate Karen and her team’s success.

Our panel sessions sparked insightful discussions throughout the event, providing attendees with invaluable knowledge and networking opportunities. We were also honoured to have Andrew Pattinson, Chief Innovation Officer at IPA, host the Rural Pharmacy Forum and highlight rural pharmacies’ vital role in healthcare delivery.

From industry sessions to networking opportunities, APP2024 has been a testament to the strength and unity of our pharmacy community.

We look forward to continuing this journey together, growing stronger with each shared success.

We were so proud to support Growing Cambodia at APP2024 and help raise awareness for a great cause!

A heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you who made a donation and contributed to this important cause. Your support will make a meaningful difference in the lives of rural Cambodians, empowering them through education and enhancing their health and well-being. Together, we’re making a positive impact and helping communities thrive!

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to making the APP2024 cocktail party an unforgettable evening. Here’s to our continued growth, innovation, and success!

We’re thrilled to announce our lucky winners from the recent events! Congratulations to Edwina Capell, Jodi Wishaw and Nicholas Ikonomos, who each won a Zero-10 E-Scooter from our various giveaways at APP2024!  Thank you to everyone who participated, and stay tuned for more exciting opportunities in the future!

If you didn’t manage to attend APP, as part of our commitment to supporting your growth and sustainability, I invite you to explore our exclusive whitepaper, “Navigating the Future of Pharmacy: Unlocking Growth and Sustainability.” This insightful resource provides valuable strategies and insights to help you thrive in today’s dynamic pharmacy environment. 

Gold Coast, Australia (March 15, 2024)

At the APP2024 Conference yesterday, Steve Kastrinakis, Managing Director, and highly regarded founding Pharmacist, announced the formation of Independent Pharmacies Group of Australia (IPA).  IPA is a new chapter for The Platform Alliance Group, a previous merger between several longstanding independent pharmacy groups – Advantage Pharmacy, Pharmacy Catalyst, and Pharmacy Alliance.

IPA aims to provide comprehensive support tailored to the unique needs of independent pharmacies operating across Australia. With nearly 1,200 member pharmacies, the group leverages its scale to invest in innovative programs, services, and technology that provide their members with an integrated and unique approach to drive better patient outcomes and sustainable business growth.

“Our name change reflects our DNA and who we are. We understand that no two pharmacies are the same. We are here to support your independence,” stated Kastrinakis in his speech. “IPA is the product of pharmacy groups founded by pharmacists, for pharmacists, over 20 years ago, and we remain dedicated to [their] success as independent operators.”

Key benefits of the new brand for independent pharmacists include:

• Flexibility to operate branded or fully independent pharmacy models
• Group buying power for improved margins and market-leading deals
• Marketing expertise to drive consumer engagement and loyalty
• Implementation support for professional services and revenue streams
• Business intelligence tools including procurement analytics and loyalty insights

“Our goal is to simplify running independent pharmacies so our members can focus on delivering outstanding service to their patients,” added Kastrinakis. “Whether you want to be part of our national brands or operate an independent model, we have support levels that meet the needs of you and your local community.”

IPA launched at this year’s APP conference, inviting attendees to visit their stand to learn how the group can help independent pharmacy owners maintain their independence while charting a successful future.

About Independent Pharmacies Group of Australia

Independent Pharmacies Group of Australia (IPA) is a member-owned organisation supporting over 1,200 independent community pharmacies across the country. Founded by pharmacists with a mission to champion independent and sustainable pharmacy ownership, IPA provides group buying power, marketing resources, business coaching and a range of professional services to help members grow their businesses and better serve their communities.

For more information or media inquiries, please contact:

Nimfa Martinez

General Manager Marketing – Brands

E: nimfa.martinez@thepagroup.com.au

M: 0433 122 713

 

The Platform Alliance Group is thrilled to announce the three winning pharmacies who participated in the recent Chemist Discount Centre (CDC) member’s loyalty campaign; the Save & Win Club Card promotion.

A big shoutout to the amazing CDC teams at Morley (Perth WA), Upper Ferntree Gulley (VIC), and Warragul (VIC), whose diligent efforts in scanning numerous Club Cards resulted in a well-deserved $10,000 winner at each of their stores!

The Save and Win Club Card promotion has been a huge drawcard for CDC customers. It offers them a chance to win valuable prizes by simply purchasing eligible products featured in the catalogue and scanning their CDC Club Card in-store.

The promotion rewards loyal customers whilst simultaneously ensuring access to affordable healthcare and wellness products, which echoes the CDC promise of expert advice at lower prices.

Melbourne Wednesday 17th May

The 60-day dispensing policy released in the Federal Budget will cause a reduction in dispensary income requiring better management of inventory costs for Pharmacy owners. The Platform Alliance Group (PAG) has harnessed the power of automation via its proprietary inventory management system, Buy It Right®; helping pharmacy owners navigate the impact of 60-day dispensing and generating operational efficiencies to ease the financial burden.

John Kardis, pharmacist, and founder of Buy It Right said: “Our sophisticated algorithm-based technology automates inventory management for pharmacies, enabling intuitive real-time stock replenishment decisions.”

Kardis continued, “Buy It Right has bespoke forecasting and ordering features that integrate with all supplier trading terms and deals. Staff are always buying the right stock at the right time”.

Optimisation is achieved via a range of factors, most notably via elimination of operational costs, improved workflow efficiencies and gross margin growth through perfect purchasing patterns.

Extensive financial modelling demonstrates that the average pharmacy* will save in excess of $50,000 per annum after implementing Buy It Right®.

This is borne out by Sue Fosbery, pharmacist and owner of Advantage Pharmacy Falcon, High Wycombe, and Florida Beach:

“We have been using the Buy It Right Inventory management system at our pharmacies since 2020. It has proven to be a very efficient program for both ordering and monitoring stock and has hence saved us considerable time and consequently wages at all stores. We’ve saved in the order of $50,000 in gross revenue on labour costs and inventory optimisation in one of our pharmacies using the system.”

PAG will provide further updates regarding the planned national rollout of the system, delivering on its promise to enable pharmacy owners to spend more time maximizing patient health outcomes and creating healthier communities across Australia.

To discuss how BIR can help your business please click on the button below.

Customers will now earn 2 points per $1 spent. But that’s not all, customers will receive a $5 welcome voucher off their next purchase and a special treat on their birthday. This means Club Card holders earn points in-store which can, in turn, be used to purchase items when shopping in one of their stores. Simply, all they need to do is scan their Club Card while making a purchase. The program attracts new customers and encourages existing customers to continually come back and shop in-store, driving brand loyalty. Members have already seen a significant increase in sign-ups since the launch.

Nimfa Martinez, Chief Marketing Officer at The Platform Alliance Group said “The rise in cost of living is putting many Australians under pressure. Our Chemist Discount Centre Rewards Club builds on our commitment to helping our customers save every day and making it more affordable to look after their health.”

Jess, Retail Manager, Chemist Discount Centre Niddrie has said “Customers love the simplicity of the offer. The more they purchase, the more they will be rewarded. We have had more customers wanting to sign up for our CDC Club Card in the few days since launch, than in the last month!”

Kelvin Lee, Managing Partner, Chemist Discount Centre Parkhill said “As a managing partner, I actually find that the launch of the loyalty points system in a discount pharmacy model gives us an edge. It provides more reasons for customers to shop with us for more products, more frequently, and be rewarded for it.”

The Club Card is free to sign up for and lets the shopper earn points every time they shop and access a variety of exclusive offers in-store.

To find out more, visit your local Chemist Discount Centre store to sign up today!