The Warehouse Group (TWG) has taken a stake in Zoom Health, a health technology company and shareholder in Zoom Care, an online pharmacy delivering prescription medicines to patients.

Door-to-door medication delivery is a crucial service for New Zealanders, particularly in current times when it’s hard to get out to pick up prescriptions, said TWG CEO Nick Grayston. “We believe that through this investment, we are helping make a difference to New Zealanders’ welfare in a way that provides convenience and affordability.” The investment also complements the group’s existing expertise in online retail and distribution, he said.

The Warehouse Group CEO Nick Grayston

Zoom Health managing director David Taylor said the investment will allow the company to expand its Zoom Pharmacy services from around 30,000-50,000 Kiwis to up to 250,000. Half a million New Zealanders are not enrolled with a GP, while many more may be enrolled but have poor access to GPs and traditional pharmacy services, he said. “The reality is that healthcare has been failing many New Zealanders for years.”

Zoom Health research in South Auckland, which it undertook in partnership with Te Ranga Ora (a new care system designed to support patients and their whanau living with long-term conditions, such as diabetes, in Counties Manukau) showed Māori and Pasifika specifically were not well served by the current GP and pharmacy structure, said Taylor. In line with current health reforms, there is a need to move away from old structures focusing on where the hospital, clinic and pharmacy are located, he said, and shifting the focus to where the patient is and their specific needs. “Building a patient-centred service focusing on prescription medications, we can improve medicine adherence, leading to better health status and improved outcomes.”

Zoom Health managing director David Taylor

When asked if the online pharmacy investment will be accompanied by GP services in retail outlets, TWG said that while it is always looking at ways to improve its offering to customers, there are no further plans at this stage. “However, expanding beyond prescription fulfilment to provide better health outcomes and convenience and affordability for Kiwis is something we may consider in the future.”

Zoom Pharmacy is one of the largest independent pharmacies operating in New Zealand, offering a free, nationwide, personalised prescription service for fully funded medication, with current DHB funding agreements covering more than 3.8m people. The service will be available direct to consumers on the Zoom Pharmacy and The Warehouse Group websites.

For more on the changing New Zealand pharmacy market, see https://eyeonoptics.co.nz/articles/archive/new-era-pharmacy-shake-up/