The Competition Tribunal has approved, albeit with conditions, a merger between Clicks and Netcare with regards to the latter’s in-hospital “front shops”. The approval comes five months after the companies entered into the agreement on 8 June 2016.
Netcare said in a statement:
"Clicks will in due course assume control of all Medicross pharmacies and 45 front shops of the Netcare Hospital division. The rationale for the transaction is to offer an enhanced retail service offering to both patients and consumers by affiliating the pharmacy and the front shops to an experienced retail provider such as Clicks."
The merger excludes the dispensing of prescriptions in the hospital pharmacies, which will remain with Netcare Pharmacies' operations.
Clicks will assume control of all Medicross pharmacies as of 1 December 2016, and the 45 retail front shops from 1 February 1.
