Annual report 2018

Galenica annual report 2018 | 19 Health & Beauty Segment – Retail Business sector Mediservice as a centre of competence In light of increasingly complex new medications for appli- cations in the areas of oncology, immunology and haemato­ logy, Mediservice’s competences and services were again in strong demand in 2018. Specialty pharmacy Mediservice is now not only a complement to in-patient points of treat- ment such as hospitals and clinics but has also established itself as a comprehensive service platform for the care and support of patients with chronic or rare diseases such as cancer and multiple sclerosis. Mediservice introduced new distance healthcare services for chronically ill patients via telephone, videophone or e-mail in the year under review (see textbox on the right). Outlook Innovations with added value for customers and pharmacies Galenica is seeking to build on its leading position in the Swiss pharmacy market. One way it intends to do this is by launching new, innovative services and products that add value for customers. The Derma-Center, which was opened at the Amavita pharmacy in the Metro shopping centre in Geneva in 2017 in collaboration with L’Oréal Cosmétique Active, will therefore also be introduced at further locations in an adapted form from 2019 based on feedback from cus- tomers. Furthermore, the collaboration with Verfora will be strenghtened, including through the introduction of exclu- sive new brands such as the new own skincare product range Dermafora ® , and the expansion of the Spagyros and Adler Schüssler mineral salts complementary medicine portfolios in the Galenicare pharmacy formats or of selected own brands for Sun Store. Galenicare will also expand the online offering in 2019, thereby further strengthening the proven Omni-Channel strategy, with the aim of making shopping as easy and con- venient for customers as possible. Finally, the Primary Care project will be implemented together with HCI Solutions. This will enable pharmacists from all formats to meet the extended requirements concerning documentation of their advice to patients well and efficiently. Specialty pharmacy Mediservice has further strengthened its leading position as a service platform for the care and support of patients with chronic or rare diseases – now also through its distance healthcare offering, which was intro- duced in 2018. Under this therapy support service, chroni- cally ill patients are provided with care from specially trained professionals via telephone, videophone or e-mail. Mediservice customers are mainly chronically or severely ill people who rely on special care with regard to their medication. The aim of the video therapy support is to make patients’ lives in their own homes easy and com- fortable for as long as possible. In doing so, Mediservice contributes to improving efficiency in healthcare by avoiding unnecessary hospitalisations and out-patient consultations. Treatment of chronically ill patients beyond in- and out-patient care at hospitals and medical institutions is becoming increasingly important. Several hundred primar- ily incurable long-term patients throughout Switzerland are now already using this distance healthcare offering. Mediservice also gives top priority to data protection. The exchange of data between patients, treating physicians and Mediservice is encrypted and complies with Swiss data protection legislation and guidelines. High-quality patient care “Several hundred patients are now already using the new distance healthcare offering from Mediservice.” Retail