NEWS RELEASE
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'THE FUTURE OF PHARMACY'; LAUNCHES IN YORK REGION
~ Pharma Kiosk (PK+) Offers Residents a Convenient Pharmacy Service ~
MARKHAM, ON, August 23, 2011 ˇV TCE Group (www.tcegroup.com), an area-based engineering company, experienced in the pharmacy and technology industries, has launched Pharma Kiosk (PK+) (www.pk-plus.com) in York Region. PK+ is a terminal-like ATM machine that allows customers to conveniently order prescription drugs and pharmacy products by using an Internet-enabled service kiosk in compliance with current industry and government regulations.
Two kiosks have been recently launched in the Region, one at Southlake Hospital in the emergency waiting room entrance and another at a Markham Road medical centre. Two more operated by ADV-Care Pharmacy have been serving employees since February this year; located in Toronto at the Salvation Army main offices on Overlea Blvd. and Quest Software in downtown Toronto.
"PK+ and its mail order infrastructure offer consumers in the Region an alternative convenience they badly need," says Amr Bannis, president, TCE Group. "It is truly the future of pharmacy services in Canada."
ˇ§The automation of many service delivery models, like automated cashier machines in grocery stores, flight check-in kiosks at airports and many other examples, makes the move to automate the drug delivery infrastructure a natural progression. But due to the complexity, sensitivity, safety and regulatory requirements of this essential healthcare service, the development of its automation has not been adequately commercialized - until now.ˇ¨
Over the past year, TCE Group has developed PK+ and is rolling the kiosks out in York Region for the first time. PK+ was showcased to the pharmacy community at Juneˇ¦s Ontario Pharmacists' Associationˇ¦s annual conference.
ˇ§In 2009, the Ontario government passed regulations to change the drug pricing system which affects all community pharmacies -- forcing small pharmacies to close and reducing profit margins of larger operations,ˇ¨ adds Bannis. ˇ§This policy leads to less consumer accessibility as drug stores close down or reduce business hours to save on operational costs, especially in many rural areas. Gradually, consumers will be facing longer wait times at drug stores to fill their prescriptions. Thatˇ¦s why we chose to develop and launch PK+ to help fill this marketplace gap and provide an alternative pharmacy service to Ontarians and the residents of York Region.ˇ¨
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