Industry News Archives

The network that’s helping vaccinate the nation

The Sigma Healthcare network is playing a vital role in vaccinating Australia, as our country moves to a sustainable COVID normal with a highly vaccinated population. Powered by Sigma’s experience,

08 Nov, 2021Community Pharmacy, Industry News

Ernie Papadopoulos reflects on the Pooraka Distribution Centre launch

Ernie Papadopoulos, Head of Sales, reflects on the Pooraka Distribution Centre build in South Australia and how the endeavour exceeded expectations after a tumultuous year. Community spirit

15 Mar, 2021Brands, Community Pharmacy, Industry News

Sigma Supplier Analytics Portal – launching 1 February 2021

Our Sigma Wholesale Supplier Engagement Team has been working on an innovative portal that delivers enhanced reporting and visibility to our suppliers. For some time, we’ve offered a

04 Jan, 2021Industry News

Sigma Connect – the smart way to order for your pharmacy

Sigma Connect is leading the way in providing pharmacies with simplified, user-friendly, secure ordering as well as the opportunity to take advantage of special deals and win prizes. Since its launch

09 Nov, 2020Industry News

Angela Boyatzis – Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s WA Pharmacist of the Year

Congratulations to our very own Amcal Pharmacist, Angela Boyatzis, who received the prestigious Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s WA Pharmacist of the Year award. A testament to Angela’s

08 Oct, 2020Brands, Industry News

Sigma Connect – Australia’s Leading Pharmacy Portal

Sigma Connect offers considerable benefits to Sigma customers through simplified, user-friendly, secure ordering as well as substantial advantages for our suppliers. We are proud that Sigma Connect

06 Oct, 2020Industry News

Building on a year of success for a greater future

Sigma Healthcare held its annual Supplier Forum online this year. Here are some the opportunities for industry suppliers flagged for 2021 and beyond. Mark Hooper – CEO and Managing Director

25 Sep, 2020Industry News

Think like a banker when seeking finance for your pharmacy

Understanding how banks think and behave – and what they look at in a business – is essential for pharmacy owners, says Paul O’Sullivan, Sigma Healthcare’s Group Manager Sigma Financial

31 Aug, 2020Industry News

Metro Melbourne and Mitchell Shire pharmacies are ready to accept electronic prescriptions.

On Monday 17 August, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Victoria branch, announced the expansion of the Community of Interest program for electronic prescriptions, across Metropolitan Melbourne and

18 Aug, 2020Industry News

Sigma innovates its support for Pharmacy Assistants

Leading Sigma retail pharmacy brands, Amcal, Chemist King, Discount Drug Stores, Guardian, PharmaSave and WholeLife have announced that this year’s Pharmacy Assistant Annual Conference (PAAC) will

03 Aug, 2020Industry News

Our pharmacy location checklist, built from experience

In an article I wrote late last year, Suffering in silence won’t help your pharmacy, I outlined the five fundamental ways a pharmacy business can go wrong. In this article I’d like to dive deeper

30 Jul, 2020Industry News

LEAPP Dispensary Excellence Program: 2020 Foundation intake closing soon!

Now in its fourth year, our LEAPP Dispensary Excellence Program is taking enrolments for the 12-week Foundation course commencing August 2020. Launched in 2017 for our Amcal and Guardian pharmacies

23 Jul, 2020Industry News

A day in the life of a Sigma driver

Well before your pharmacy opens, pharmacy deliveries are prepared and Sigma Healthcare drivers are ready to deliver essential products to our pharmacy and hospital customers within short timeframes.

17 Jul, 2020Industry News

How we’re enhancing speed and accuracy in pharmacy distribution

Our national Distribution Network works around the clock to deliver products to our pharmacy and hospital customers within short timeframes. Paul Brown, our National Operations Manager, Logistics

09 Jul, 2020Industry News

Discontinuation of Nardil (phenelzine sulfate)

Joint statement from the Therapeutic Goods Administration, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, and the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia. The sponsor of Nardil

30 Jun, 2020Industry News

Top labour costs and risks for your pharmacy to avoid

For most small retail businesses, wages represent a significant outgoing. In pharmacy, they represent the largest controllable cost. Good people come at a cost but they, along with the owner,

02 Jun, 2020Industry News

COVID-19 and Federal Government Assistance

COVID-19 is upon us and, by all accounts, its impact will be felt for a while. As a pharmacist, you are at the forefront of assisting people with their healthcare. As a business owner, COVID-19

06 Apr, 2020Industry News

Guardian Pharmacy awarded 2019 Chemist/Pharmacy of the Year

Congratulations to the franchise partners of our Guardian Pharmacy network on winning the 2019 Roy Morgan Customer Satisfaction Award for the Chemist/Pharmacy category. During Tuesday night’s

20 Feb, 2020Brands, Industry News

Profit from motivated and engaged pharmacy staff – by Paul O’Sullivan

In a previous article, I (Paul O’Sullivan, Group Manager – Sigma Financial Services) said that our long experience tells us that there are five fundamentals that can go wrong in a

05 Feb, 2020Industry News

Suffering in silence won’t help your pharmacy

Paul Sullivan, Group Manager of Sigma Financial Services, outlines the five fundamentals that can go wrong in a pharmacy business and how to diagnose the specific challenges you face – so you can

16 Oct, 2019Industry News

This month in pharmacy

It’s been an exciting month, with a few interesting announcements set to improve the state of Australian pharmacy. This month, we focus on stories calling for the continued improvement of our

11 Sep, 2019Industry News

Highlights from 2019 Medici Women’s Pharmacy Conference By Vanessa Lontos

Now in its 4th year, the Medici Women’s Conference had a clear focus on business and actionable insights from the industry – this is Vanessa Lontos’ wrap

19 Jul, 2019Events, Industry News

The ins and outs of the flu and flu vaccinations

The flu season is upon us – essential information for Sigma pharmacists. Better prepared to provide better care and keep patients healthy.

07 Jun, 2019Industry News

Now is the time to join Sigma

Who is Sigma? Sigma Healthcare is a leading Australian-based wholesale and distribution business. We have the largest pharmacy network in Australia, with over 1,200 branded and independent stores.

29 Jan, 2019Announcements, Industry News

Big news for Amcal and Guardian at PSA 2018

This year’s conference, held in host city San Francisco, provided education for pharmacists on a wide range of professional, clinical and business topics, from dermatology and gastrointestinal to

30 Oct, 2018Brands, Events, Industry News

Diabetes Risk Assessment Program Identifies Those at Risk

It is not only the physical impact of diabetes that affects the lives of everyday Australians; diabetes has a significant impact on mental health, through prejudice socially and in the workplace.

25 Oct, 2018Announcements, Community & Social, Industry News

The future of the National Medicines Policy

How do the National Medicines Policy (NMP) and Community Service Obligation (CSO) work? According to the Department of Health, the National Medicines Policy (NMP) aims to improve positive health

26 Sep, 2018Announcements, Industry News

Healthcare leadership strategies for the future of pharmacy

Healthcare organisations today are facing significant changes, such as the need to satisfy a progressively more ‘aware’ and demanding user, and the need for internal changes to keep pace with the

08 Aug, 2018Industry News

Novartis Wins Prestigious Supplier Awards

Novartis Australia has won the prestigious 2018 Sigma Supplier of the Year award at a gala industry event held at the Plaza Ballroom in Melbourne last night. In front of pharmaceutical industry

20 Jul, 2018Industry News

Urgent action needed to secure access to PBS medicines

On Friday 8 June 2018, the Department of Health commenced a review of the Community Service Obligation (CSO) Funding Pool for pharmaceutical wholesalers. The following media release is the

12 Jun, 2018Industry News, Media Releases

Better health, better Healthcare

Pharmacists are among the most trusted professional communities in Australia, with community pharmacies serving as the frontline point of contact between healthcare industry and patient. As such,

03 May, 2018Industry News

Social Media: a platform for Healthcare marketing?

Healthcare is changing. Patients are now better able to easier research and access medical advice from their smartphones than ever before – and that can be a double-edged sword for pharmacists,