FARMINGTON, Conn. — DrugMax Inc., a specialty pharmacy and drug distribution provider, announced in a news release that it plans to open electronic pharmacy kiosks through a licensing agreement with Duane Reade Inc. DrugMax will operate the kiosks under its Familymeds and Arrow Pharmacy brands and plans to initially open five locations by the end of 2005 in the greater Connecticut market, with additional locations in various other markets scheduled for next year.
The electronic pharmacy kiosks will enable patients to scan their prescriptions and consult with the company's pharmacist or technician through a live interactive video conference. Following this consultation, patients will have the flexibility to schedule a pickup of their pharmaceuticals at any one of the company's 77 Familymeds and Arrow Pharmacy locations or to have their medication mailed or delivered to their home. The kiosks will be installed on medical campuses that DrugMax does not currently serve as well as in locations where the company has a pharmacy, but in a separate building.
James Beaumariage, R.Ph., senior vice president operations, Familymeds Inc., said, "We are pleased to be able to draw upon Duane Reade's proven kiosk technology as we seek to take advantage of this significant growth opportunity. Through the use of electronic pharmacy kiosks, we are well positioned to grow our pharmacy business in a cost-effective manner, expand our reach within existing as well as new medical campuses and generate incremental sales. In addition, the kiosks position the company to partner with physicians and other medical practitioners to increase medication compliance among patients as well as provide enhanced customer service. Going forward, we plan to continue to look for opportunities to take advantage of DrugMax's unique market position and grow our pharmacy business."
According to David Siegel, general manager of Duane Reade's kiosk business, "DrugMax has taken the lead among all regional pharmacy chains in licensing and implementing the pharmacy kiosk machines to improve customer service and patient compliance. They should certainly be applauded. Pharmacy kiosk technology is where ATMs were 20 years ago. You used to need someone to help you to use an ATM and there are now over one million ATMs in operation. Based on our initial, real results, we believe the pharmacy kiosk will have a similar adoption rate."
