Sun Life invests $9.5 million in online pharmacy business

Sun Life has invested $9.5 million in Simpill Health Group, which operates Pillway, a national online pharmacy. They also have the opportunity to invest another $1.5 million. This summer, Sun Life launched its app, Lumino Health Pharmacy. Its technology and pharmacy services—which include the ability to connect with a pharmacist by chat or phone and same-day medication delivery—are provided by Pillway. The investment in Pillway adds the capability for Sun Life members to access their medications via the virtual pharmacy which claims on its website to have “a specialized focus on chronic disease management and individuals managing multiple medications per day.”“Pillway and Sun Life share a mutual passion for helping Canadians with their health. Today’s announcement is a testament to our ongoing commitment to easy-to-use and high-quality pharmacy care,” Lak Gill, chief executive officer at Pillway, said in a press release. “We are excited to have Sun Life as a strategic partner and, together, continue to grow.”Read: Is it possible Express Scripts Canada will break the camel’s back?Sun Life uses Express Scripts Canada, which has recently generated controversy over a new pharmacy fee of up to $200 a month. That’s part of a trend towards American-style pharmacy benefit manager operations and business practices into the Canadian market, said Justin Bates, Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Pharmacists Association. It includes pharmacy fees, as well as organizations like Sun Life directing their customers to specific pharmacies. “We’re seeing this vertical integration of payer-directed care, meaning they are sending the patients to their own pharmacy,” says Bates. “We think there’s not healthy competition there. We don’t think it’s great for patients or the healthcare system, and it’s certainly not good for community pharmacy.” Read: Express Scripts Canada’s new $200 fee for pharmacies raises concerns of U.S.-style PBMs in Canada

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