Pharmacies in Australia

Transcription

1 Healthy and wealthy: The industry maintains mature growth as competition intensifies IBISWorld Industry Report G525a Pharmacies in Australia June 2012 Arna Richardson 2 About this Industry 2 Industry Definition 2 Main Activities 2 Similar Industries 2 Additional Resources 3 Industry at a Glance 18 Competitive Landscape 18 Market Share Concentration 18 Key Success Factors 18 Cost Structure Benchmarks 19 Basis of Competition 21 Barriers to Entry 21 Industry Globalisation 32 Key Statistics 32 Industry Data 32 Annual Change 32 Key Ratios 33 Jargon & Glossary 4 Industry Performance 4 Executive Summary 4 Key External Drivers 5 Current Performance 7 Industry Outlook 10 Industry Life Cycle 12 Products & Markets 12 Supply Chain 12 Products & Services 13 Demand Determinants 14 Major Markets 15 International Trade 16 Business Locations 22 Major Companies 22 Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Limited 24 Sigma Pharmaceuticals Limited 25 Zuellig Healthcare Holdings Australia Pty Limited 27 Operating Conditions 27 Capital Intensity 28 Technology & Systems 29 Revenue Volatility 29 Regulation & Policy 31 Industry Assistance (03) info@ibisworld.com

2 Pharmacies in Australia June About this Industry Industry Definition The industry covers all community pharmacies involved in the sale of prescription drugs and patent medicines. The products are sourced either directly from upstream pharmaceutical manufacturers or from pharmaceutical wholesalers. The products are then sold to the general consumer from a pharmacy. Main Activities The primary activities of this industry are Drug retailing Patent medicine retailing Pharmacy retail and operation Prescription and medicinal dispensing The major products and services in this industry are General retail products Non-prescription medicines Prescription medicines Similar Industries C2543 Pharmaceutical Product Manufacturing in Australia Companies in this industry manufacture drugs, medicinal chemicals and other pharmaceutical products for human or veterinary use. F4797 Pharmaceuticals Wholesaling in Australia Firms in this industry wholesale pharmaceutical preparations. F4798 Cosmetics and Toiletry Wholesaling in Australia Establishments in this industry wholesale cosmetics and toilet preparations. IBISWorld writes over 500 Australian industry reports, which are updated up to four times a year. To see all reports, go to Additional Resources For additional information on this industry Department of Health and Ageing Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Pharmacy Guild of Australia

3 Pharmacies in Australia June Industry at a Glance Pharmacies in Key Statistics Snapshot Revenue $12.4bn Annual Growth % Profit $310.9m Wages $2.4bn Annual Growth % Businesses 3,795 Market Share Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Limited 12.0% Sigma Pharmaceuticals Limited 6.5% Zuellig Healthcare Holdings Australia Pty Limited 5.0% Key External Drivers Federal funding for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Competition from supermarkets and other grocery stores Consumer sentiment index Real household disposable income Competition from department stores p. 22 p. 4 % change Revenue vs. employment growth Year Revenue Business locations Employment 10.2% WA 20.4% QLD 8.1% SA 18 % change 1.2% 2.7% 0.6% ACT NT TAS Federal funding for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Year % VIC 33.4% NSW 15 SOURCE: SOURCE: SOURCE: Industry Structure Life Cycle Stage Mature Revenue Volatility Low Capital Intensity Low Industry Assistance Medium Concentration Level Low Regulation Level Technology Change Barriers to Entry Industry Globalisation Competition Level Heavy Medium High Low Medium For additional statistics and time series see the appendix on page 32

4 Pharmacies in Australia June Industry Performance Executive Summary Key External Drivers Current Performance Industry Outlook Life Cycle Stage Executive Summary The Pharmacies industry plays an important role in the provision of community primary health care. The nation s 5,270 community pharmacies provide services such as medication management information, advice on minor ailments and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, and preventative care services. They are also the primary distribution points for prescription and scheduled OTC medicines. The industry is highly fragmented and made up of a large number of individual operators. Despite this, it makes a significant contribution to the Australian economy, generating in excess of $12 billion in revenue annually. In , community pharmacies supplied 183 million Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) scripts, up from million scripts in the previous year. With estimated annualised growth 1.8% over the past five years, the industry is expected to generate revenue of $12.4 billion in , up 2.1% from During the year, the performance of the industry will be influenced by ongoing changes associated with the fundamental reform process occurring in the PBS. The fallout effects associated with the decision by Australia s largest pharmaceutical manufacturer Pfizer to use a direct distribution model (thereby bypassing the traditional wholesale channel) will also influence the industry, with a number of pharmacies continuing to experience supply problems. In the next five years, industry growth will be driven by an ageing population. However, growth will be constrained by flat PBS volumes (which will have implications for the quantity of drugs dispensed) and the loss of market share to external forces. The competitive landscape of the industry will change as it becomes increasingly polarised between pharmacies offering full service and health advice, and discount pharmacies competing on the basis of price. At the same time, there will be further moves away from the traditional pharmacy business model, which is heavily dependent on the dispensing of prescription drugs. Industry revenue is forecast to grow at an annualised 2.4% over the next five years, to reach $14 billion in P p Key External Drivers Federal funding for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme A Federal Government scheme for subsidising the cost of pharmaceuticals to the Australian community, the PBS was introduced in 1950 and currently covers 3,600 different drug products (brands). Remuneration to pharmacists for dispensing pharmaceuticals that are listed on the PBS is set via an agreement between the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and the Federal Government. In , 188 Federal funding for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme 12 Consumer sentiment index 120 % change Index Year Year SOURCE:

5 Pharmacies in Australia June Industry Performance Key External Drivers continued million scripts were dispensed via the PBS. Competition from supermarkets and other grocery stores In the past five years, pharmacies have been under growing pressure from supermarkets and other non-pharmacy outlets that have been increasing their product ranges to encompass products previously stocked by pharmacies only, including OTC products. For example, supermarkets tend to stock substitutes for the most widely used non-scheduled chemist-only products. Consumer sentiment index Consumer sentiment affects how much consumers are willing to spend on discretionary items at pharmacies. In addition, consumers are more likely to purchase generic-brand prescription medicines when sentiment is low. Real household disposable income The demand for non-essential drugs and for many of the front-of-store products sold by pharmacies (including cosmetics and toiletries) is responsive to changes in the level of real household disposable income. Competition from department stores Over the past five years, there has been an increase in the level of competition derived from department stores that have expanded their product ranges to include various cosmetic and toiletry items and non-scheduled chemist-only products. Current Performance Over the five years through , the Pharmacies industry has derived most of its revenue from the dispensing of prescription pharmaceuticals, its traditional revenue base. This is in spite of efforts by various industry participants to provide a more total pharmacy offer in line with their changing operating environment. This offer has meant a greater emphasis on front-of-store sales, which includes not only traditional pharmacy lines but also new value added lines. One impetus for the changing business models is the number of deep-seated challenges affecting the pharmaceutical market, including the effect of key patent expiries and the fall-out effects associated with the introduction of fundamental (and ongoing) reforms to the PBS commencing August 2007, which represent the largest shake-up to the scheme in about 60 years. These have had widespread reverberations, affecting all components of the industry. Pharmaceutical companies (whether they be manufacturers, wholesalers or retailers) are now having to adopt new business models in line with the changed realities of the pharmaceutical marketplace. In the case of pharmacies, margins have been significantly squeezed by the mandatory price cut to a large number of PBS drugs, forcing pharmacies to diversify their revenue base away from traditional dispensing activities. Pharmacies are also dealing with another external shock, namely the move by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer to cut wholesalers out of the supply chain as it extends its direct distribution model to directly sell its prescription pharmaceuticals to pharmacies. Part of the rationale for this move appears to lie in the ongoing PBS reforms. However, several pharmacies claim to be experiencing difficulties in ensuring that their patients receive timely access to medicines. In , the industry is expected to be worth $12.4 billion, compared with $11.4 billion in Year-on-year growth has ranged between a high of 2.6% in and a low of 0.6% in Overall, revenue is expected to grow at an annualised 1.8% over the five years through , with growth of 2.1% in

6 Pharmacies in Australia June Industry Performance Constrained profit margins Pharmacies derive a considerable proportion of their net profits from prescription dispensation, with a smaller proportion derived from front-of-store operations. In the case of the former, prescription medicines have prices or margins that are set by the government via the PBS and Community Pharmacy Agreements. These have tended to fall in the past five years, particularly in the wake of the ongoing PBS reforms. At the same time, pharmacy profitability has been affected by rising competitive pressures, particularly as the industry becomes increasingly polarised between the new discount pharmacies with their everyday low price offering and those employing the more traditional full-service model. Moves by upstream wholesalers to cut their discounts or credit terms offered to pharmacies have also had an adverse effect on profit margins. New retail formats Over the past decade, there has been a slight increase in pharmacy numbers as existing players such as Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (owner of the Priceline Pharmacy brand) have gradually rolled out new stores. As at early 2012, there were 332 Priceline stores nationwide, of which 185 were pharmacies. Australian Pharmaceutical Industries is increasingly relying on a franchise model. Similarly, Terry White Chemists is in the process of opening new franchise stores, with its numbers increasing from 108 franchises in to 165 in In , IBISWorld expects there to be 5,270 approved pharmacies and friendly societies, up from 4,992 in This has added to competitive pressures, as has the development of new pharmacy models. There has also been the introduction of a number of new retail formats, including niche pharmacies, larger super-chemists and discount or warehouse-style outlets. The last of these in particular has benefited from recessionary conditions and the associated effect on discretionary consumer expenditure patterns, with a growing number of consumers favouring warehouse pharmacies that promise discounted prices over the more traditional pharmacy format. In response, Priceline pharmacy has introduced a new fixed-price prescription medicine model, with nearly 60 of the most popular prescriptions priced at $5.99. New competitive forces Several significant changes have occurred to the industry s operating environment, partly brought about by new internal and external competitive forces. The introduction of low-cost, warehouse-style pharmacies with aggressive pricing strategies has affected the industry internally, representing a threat to the business model of the traditional community pharmacy. The advent of online pharmacies and mail order pharmacies is another threat to the more traditional pharmacy. Externally, the industry has faced increasing competitive pressures from supermarkets, niche health and beauty retailers, discount department stores and general merchandise retailers including Target and Kmart. This has occurred as items that were once stocked at traditional pharmacies have become open sellers, meaning that as an increasing number of non-pharmacy outlets were able to stock such products at a more competitive price, pharmacies have found it harder to retain their OTC customer base. Similar moves by such stores to increase their associated health and beauty offerings have translated into heightened competitive pressures for other front-of-store sales.

7 Pharmacies in Australia June Industry Performance Inclusive pharmacy offer In an attempt to arrest the trend away from OTC sales, pharmacies have introduced new business practices to focus on front-of-store sales and provide a more total pharmacy offer. This has resulted in a review of the range and presentation of products and the implementation of new marketing and advertising strategies. The average size of a pharmacy has also increased. Concept stores such as Amcal Max offer a broad range of consumer products including non-prescription medicines, health and beauty products and lifestyle products. Similarly Terry White Chemists is seeking to derive as much as 22% of its revenue from general retail sales. The industry has sought to build on the increasing level of professional services available via community pharmacies, stressing the integral role they play in the general healthcare framework. Such services include the provision of drug information, medication management services, clinical interventions and preventative care services for patients with chronic conditions. Technological developments, reflected in the greater availability of pre-packaged medicines, have had implications for the product profile of many pharmacies and the time spent by pharmacists in actually compounding drugs. Industry participants have also expanded their product ranges to include a growing number of complementary or alternative medicines. This reflects the growing focus among an increasing number of Australian consumers on a more holistic approach to their general health and wellbeing. Industry Outlook Long-term underlying economic, demographic and social trends bode well for the Pharmacies industry. In particular, an ageing population, changing community attitudes to health and skin care, various psychological motivations and ongoing product development and innovation are expected to contribute to continued industry growth. However, growth will be constrained by flat PBS volumes (which will have implications for the quantity of drugs dispensed) and the loss of market share to external forces. Overall, industry revenue is expected to grow at an annualised 2.4% over the next five years, to reach an estimated $14 billion in In , revenue is forecast to grow by 2.3%. As in the past, the regulatory nature of the industry will provide a framework for its growth profile. The continued operation of the PBS and ongoing government policies designed to cap healthcare expenditure, including cutting government subsidies of prescription pharmaceuticals, will influence the industry via the level of revenue received from dispensary sales. Within the next % change Industry revenue Year few years, pharmacies will continue to be affected by the ongoing PBS reforms, which have resulted in the PBS being split into two formularies comprising F1 and F2 drugs. As per the Memorandum of Understanding reached between Medicines Australia and the government, the latest mandatory price cuts of a minimum of 23% for at least 180 F2 drugs occurred in April 2012; these are estimated to equate to a 9.0% cut in PBS revenue, with the full effects to be felt by pharmacies in one year. The new 18 SOURCE:

8 Pharmacies in Australia June Industry Performance Industry Outlook continued National Health Amendment (PBS) Bill 2012 is currently before the Federal Parliament. If enacted, this will result in PBS pricing based on ex-manufacturer prices as opposed to the approved price to pharmacy. Any further falls in PBS expenditure growth rates will have implications for participants involved in dispensing PBS prescriptions. PBS expenditure may also be affected by key patent expiries that are due to occur over the years through , with a record number of patent expiries expected for These products will be replaced by lower cost, generic products. This will translate into strong growth within the generics market, with growth also aided by the ongoing PBS reforms. The industry may have to contend with the effects of the carbon tax, including via higher wholesaler, rental and electricity costs. Competition heats up The competitive landscape of the industry will change as it becomes increasingly polarised between pharmacies offering full service and health advice, and discount pharmacies competing on the basis of price. In the case of the latter, the entry of discount pharmacies has been credited with creating an extremely costcompetitive environment. At the same time, external threats will mount as supermarkets expand their share of the health and beauty market. The recurring issue of deregulation of pharmacy ownership to allow supermarkets to enter the pharmacy arena was raised yet again in early Despite calls for such moves, deregulation is not expected to occur over the next five years. Pharmacies are expected to contend with declining margins over the next five years, caused by a combination of the fallout effects associated with PBS price disclosure and the expected growth in competitive pressure. Regulatory changes (including generic drug pricing changes and PBS reforms) and rising input costs will also exert downward pressure on industry margins. Further cuts to trading terms or higher fees charged by upstream wholesalers in the wake of Pfizer s introduction of a exclusive distribution model may also affect margins; both Sigma and API have again cut their discounts, having already reduced their trading terms in Moreover, as at mid-2012, teething problems are still apparent with the change of model from the pharmacy point of view, with pharmacies now having to purchase all of their Pfizer PBS medicines via the Generic drug pricing changes, PBS reforms and intensifying competition will squeeze profit margins new direct supply model, which does not offer the same delivery service options as the traditional wholesalers. Amendments to the Pharmacy Location Rules came into effect in October In theory these are designed to make it easier and less expensive to set up a new pharmacy, providing it is essentially part of a facility such as a shopping centre, large medical centre or private hospital, although at this stage there are still some issues associated with the new rules. Over the five years through , it is estimated that an additional 295 community pharmacies will be added to the industry base, boosted in part by moves by the likes of Priceline Pharmacy and Terry White Chemists to expand their franchise base. The latter alone wants to add 135 pharmacies over the next decade. The competitive landscape may change as upstream wholesalers refocus their operations on this particular dimension of the pharmaceutical marketplace. For example, having divested its manufacturing arm in early 2011, Sigma is now seeking to boost its front-of-store sales for the Amcal, Amcal Max and Guardian Pharmacy banner groups with a particular focus on the end consumer.

9 Pharmacies in Australia June Industry Performance The need for differentiation To combat growing competitive pressures, pharmacies may seek to differentiate themselves from low-cost competitors on the basis of the value added services they provide, such as professional healthcare advice. This service in particular is considered unique to pharmacies and as such will be emphasised as a basis of competitive differentiation from rival supermarkets or other OTC retailers. Pharmacies will also seek operating efficiencies to compensate for falling margins. These developments will result in further moves away from the traditional pharmacy business model, which is heavily dependent on the dispensing of prescription drugs. Following a move away from compounding in the past five years, compounding may gradually re-emerge as an area of specialised pharmacy practice and could provide another means of differentiation. Continued developments in technology, including increasing use of the internet (e.g. the use of national electronic prescription platforms, e-commerce and the development of net markets) and social media platforms, will gradually change the profile of the industry. Overall, the industry is expected to remain in the mature phase of its life cycle over the five years through

10 Pharmacies in Australia June Industry Performance Life Cycle Stage The industry has grown in line with the economy over the past five years There has been marginal growth in pharmacy numbers Consolidation has occurred among the various banner groups % Growth of profit/gdp Maturity Company consolidation; level of economic importance stable Quality Growth High growth in economic importance; weaker companies close down; developed technology and markets Key Features of a Mature Industry Revenue grows at same pace as economy Company numbers stabilise; M&A stage Established technology & processes Total market acceptance of product & brand Rationalisation of low margin products & brands Quantity Growth Many new companies; minor growth in economic importance; substantial technology change 5 Cosmetics and Toiletry wholesaling 0 Pharmacies Shakeout Pharmaceutical Product Manufacturing Pharmaceuticals wholesaling 5 decline Crash or Grow? Shakeout Potential Hidden Gems Future Industries Time wasters Hobby Industries % Growth of establishments SOURCE:

11 Pharmacies in Australia June Industry Performance Industry Life Cycle This industry is Mature The industry enjoyed moderate growth rates over the past five years. Helping to drive this growth has been the introduction of new products, including new pharmaceutical drugs, as well as cosmetics and toiletries products, sold as front-of-store items. A continued increase in the number of PBS products dispensed has also meant continued volume growth in terms of dispensary sales. New technology and systems have also helped the industry achieve moderate growth. For example, an increasing reliance on pre-packaged medicines is having implications for the industry in general and the time use of pharmacists in particular. At the same time, an increasing reliance on e-commerce is changing the face of the supply chain and ultimately of the industry itself. The growing use of the Internet is also serving to change the profile of the pharmaceutical retailing industry as industry participants and external competitors alike move online. An increasing number of industry participants have established complementary online operations while others are now looking to social media platforms as another means of boosting sales. The changing demographic profile of the Australian population is boosting demand for various products retailed by the industry. For example, Australians aged 65 years and above already account for approximately 80% of Australian pharmaceutical consumption. As the population continues to age, this trend is expected to continue, thereby boosting sales of the main product segment retailed by the industry. The ageing of the important baby boomer cohort is also driving demand for many cosmetic and OTC products, particularly those designed to retard the visible effects of the ageing process. At the same time however, industry growth rates have been below that of the general economy as pharmacies continued to lose market share to external forces including supermarkets keen to expand their own health and beauty offerings. Ongoing changes to the PBS in line with government efforts to curb pharmaceutical expenditure levels have also cut into the industry s revenue base. Following a bout of industry rationalisation in the early 1990s, pharmacy numbers have experienced just a slight increase over the past five years, despite several players introducing new shop formats in an attempt to arrest declining front-of-store sales. Thus, the industry is currently deemed to be in the mature phase of its current life cycle.

12 Pharmacies in Australia June Products & Markets Supply Chain Products & Services Demand Determinants Major Markets International Trade Business Locations Supply Chain Key buying industries Z9901 Consumers in Australia Households are the main market for pharmaceutical retailers. Key selling industries C2543 C2546 F4791 F4797 F4798 Pharmaceutical Product Manufacturing in Australia Medicinal and pharmaceutical manufacturers produce a range of drugs, medicinal chemicals and other pharmaceutical products for humans sold by pharmaceutical retailers. Cosmetics, Perfume and Toiletries Manufacturing in Australia This industry manufactures various cosmetic and toiletry products sold by pharmacies. Photographic Equipment Wholesaling in Australia Wholesalers in this industry provide photographic equipment supplies sold as part of a front of store offering including digital prints. Pharmaceuticals Wholesaling in Australia Pharmaceutical wholesalers are a key supplier to pharmacies. Cosmetics and Toiletry Wholesaling in Australia Cosmetics and toiletry wholesalers supply a number of products to the industry. Products & Services There are two streams of pharmacy practice in Australia: clinical (or hospital) pharmacy and community pharmacy. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (Health expenditure Australia Health and welfare expenditure series no. 46), community pharmacies dispensed $11.7 billion worth of prescription pharmaceuticals in , compared with $2.7 billion for public and private hospitals. This report is concerned with community pharmacies, which are considered an integral part of Australia s healthcare system. Community pharmacies provide a wide range of products and services, the most important of which is the dispensing of prescription medicines and pharmacyonly medicines (OTC drugs). According to legislation that dates back to the late 1800s, only pharmacies and hospitals are able to dispense prescription medicines. Since the start of the PBS in the 1950s (which today covers about 90% of prescription products dispensed), only pharmacies that have been granted the necessary regulatory approval can dispense PBS products. In addition, community pharmacies sell a variety of therapeutic substances and aids (including vitamins and minerals), baby needs, beauty products, optical products, gift ware and film development services. There are three main product categories in the industry. The largest is prescription medicines. By law, the sale of these medicines is restricted to pharmacies only and includes PBS subsidised prescriptions, unsubsidised PBS prescriptions and private prescriptions. The industry also sells nonprescription medicines. These include products that are restricted to pharmacies but do not require a prescription, including products classified as Schedule 2 (pharmacy medicines) and Schedule 3 (pharmacistonly medicines). They also include self-medication products such as OTC, complementary and alternative medicines, including vitamins, minerals and herbal, aromatherapy and homeopathic products. Over the past decade, there has been a growing trend towards the production and use of complementary medicines. The final category is general retail products, which includes baby products, bandaids, bandages, beauty products, cosmetics, perfumes, body care and hair care products, sun care products, general health items, film development and

13 Pharmacies in Australia June Products & Markets Products & Services continued optical products. Within this segment, cosmetics and toiletries are estimated to account for about 5.0%, while baby care products are estimated to account for less than 2.0%. As an indication of the importance of prescription medicines, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data (Health expenditure Australia Health and welfare expenditure series no. 46) shows that during , just under $10 billion was spent on pharmaceuticals for which benefits were paid, while total estimated expenditure on pharmaceuticals (excluding complementary and alternative medications and OTC medications without prescriptions) was $14.4 billion. Roughly $4.6 billion was spent on OTC medicines. The actual sales mix varies with each pharmacy and is in part determined by its location (e.g. in a shopping centre, shopping strip or medical centre, in a city or rural area) and its size. For example, pharmacies located in shopping strips or medical centres tend to derive a greater proportion of their sales revenue from the more traditional activities of drug dispensation, while pharmacies located in shopping centres have a greater emphasis on front-of-store retail sales. Pharmacies located in rural areas may have a more balanced sales mix. The mix also varies in line with the business model being pursued by the pharmacy and on the basis on which it has chosen to compete. Over the past few decades, there has been a change in the product profile of the general pharmacy. While dispensary sales still account for the lion s share of a pharmacy s revenue base, pharmacies have begun to refocus attention on their front-of-store operations in an attempt to counteract the strong and consistent trend away from OTC sales. This has resulted in the introduction of new business practices, supported by new marketing and advertising strategies. Products and services segmentation ( ) 15% Non-prescription medicines 20% General retail products 65% Prescription medicines Total $12.4bn SOURCE: Demand Determinants On a general basis, the demand for industry products is determined by socio-economic and demographic factors. These include general levels of disease rates (including new diseases such as heart disease and diabetes), the health of the population, government health policies, the price of pharmaceutical products, doctors prescribing patterns and utilisation rates. The age structure of the population is also an important determinant. In general, the older the population, the higher the level of demand for pharmaceutical and medicinal products. The 65 years and over age cohort already

14 Pharmacies in Australia June Products & Markets Demand Determinants continued account for over 80% of Australia s pharmaceutical consumption, with this proportion expected to further increase. The ageing population is also increasing the demand for preventative drugs and medications that enable patients to take a more active role in sustaining their wellbeing. Thus, the ageing population phenomenon is a key growth driver. New product introductions can also help stimulate demand. Advances in drug formulation and preparation allow for the development of new products that are more effective or have reduced side effects, thereby increasing the demand for products sold by the industry. The price of pharmaceutical products also plays a role, in particular the distinction between patented or branded products and their cheaper generic counterparts. A gradual increase in the availability of cheaper generic items has made the industry s products more accessible to a wider income earning spectrum and therefore increased demand. This trend is expected to continue over the next five years, in line with government policies designed to increase generic substitution rates which include the ongoing PBS changes. Thus, government health policies will also influence demand as these in turn affect factors such as doctors prescribing habits, pharmaceutical availability and the price of pharmaceutical products. Of relevance within the Australian Pharmacies industry is the existence of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), which is a Commonwealth Government scheme for subsidising the cost of pharmaceuticals to the Australian community. Under the PBS, capped co-payments and safety nets limit the cost of pharmaceuticals to consumers, with the government paying the remainder. In recent years, the scheme has increasingly focused on providing benefits to less well-off consumers. In , the total cost of the PBS was $8.87 billion of which the Government financed 83.7%. Consumer preferences also play a role in influencing demand patterns. Consumer preferences regarding the treatment of conditions and diseases have gradually shifted toward alternative medicines. The greater acceptance of Chinese medicine, naturopathy and other alternatives such as changes in diet, exercise and meditation affect the types of products demanded. At the same time, the continued conversion of various prescription drugs to over-the-counter status is also having a bearing on product profile and consumer shopping habits as some of these products can now be purchased at non-pharmacy stores. Changes in real household disposable income will also affect the level of demand for certain products. Although medication purchases are dependent on the frequency of illnesses, some medications can be sensitive to the levels of household income, especially in the case of non-critical drugs and herbal products. Sales of other front-of-store items such as cosmetics and personal care items can also be subject to changing expenditure patterns. The rise in external competition levels from other retailers, such as supermarkets and mail order and internet suppliers, can curb the level of demand for pharmacies. Major Markets Households are the predominant market for the nation s pharmaceutical retailers. According to data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (Health expenditure Australia Health and welfare expenditure series no. 46), Australian consumers spent $1.5 billion on PBS pharmaceuticals in and over $6.0 billion on other medications (including OTC medicines and private prescriptions) and medical non-durables such as bandages and bandaids. A key age cohort within this market is people aged 65 years and over. The changing demographic profile of the Australian population is boosting

15 Pharmacies in Australia June Products & Markets Major Markets continued demand for various products retailed by the industry. For example, Australians aged 65 years and over already account for about 80% of Australian pharmaceutical consumption. As the population ages, this trend is expected to continue, thereby boosting sales of the main products retailed by the industry. The ageing of the important baby boomer cohort is also driving demand for many cosmetic and OTC products, particularly those designed to retard the visible effects of the ageing process. Major market segmentation ( ) 20% People aged under 65 years 80% People aged 65 years and older Total $12.4bn SOURCE: International Trade The Australian Pharmacies industry services the domestic market. Given state legislative restrictions and the nature of the industry itself, pharmacies tend to serve just the local surrounding market.

16 Pharmacies in Australia June Products & Markets Business Locations NT 0.6 QLd 20.4 wa 10.2 SA 8.1 NSw 33.4 VIC 23.4 ACT 1.3 Establishments (%) Cold Zone (<10) <25 <50 Hot Zone (<100) Not applicable TAS 2.7 SOURCE:

17 Pharmacies in Australia June Products & Markets Business Locations The geographic distribution of the Pharmacies industry reflects the nation s economic, social and demographic breakdown; as at June 2011, the three eastern seaboard states accounted for 77% of total approved pharmacy and friendly society numbers. This same proportion was evident five years earlier and is estimated to hold in Data provided by Medicare Australia (Pharmacies and Friendly Societies, 30 June 2006 to 2011, RPC015) shows that over the five years through , an additional 267 pharmacies were established. Of this, 99 were located in Queensland, with 56 setting up shop in Victoria. In contrast, just 36 were established in New South Wales. In , just over 80% of pharmacies were located in urban areas. Although the number of pharmacies in rural areas in some states has increased in the past five years, stronger growth has occurred in the urban areas, particularly with the rollout of new franchised pharmacies. In all states the average number of people per urban pharmacy is Percentage Distribution of establishments vs. population ACT NSW Establishments Population NT QLD SA TAS VIC WA SOURCE: far less than the number of people per rural pharmacy. Friendly societies are often located in rural and regional areas, sometimes providing benefits and services to the surrounding community, which might not receive them otherwise. There are also regulations in place to limit the number and location of pharmacies.

18 Pharmacies in Australia June Competitive Landscape Market Share Concentration Key Success Factors Cost Structure Benchmarks Basis of Competition Barriers to Entry Industry Globalisation Market Share Concentration Level Concentration in this industry is Low The industry is highly fragmented, primarily as a result of state and territory legislation that restricts pharmacy ownership; only qualified pharmacists (and not incorporated entities) can own pharmacies. In addition, the number of pharmacies that can be owned by a pharmacist is generally limited. Even the large pharmaceutical wholesalers that own the retail banners under which roughly one-third of all pharmacies trade do not own the pharmacies themselves. Thus in one sense, the industry tends to be dominated by individual operators. In view of the changing competitive environment, several pharmacies have chosen to be part of banner groups, which are essentially marketing groups offering branded advertising and promotional support services. Alternatively, pharmacies may be part of a buying group in a move designed to obtain higher percentage discounts for high-volume purchases. Even a number of independent pharmacies have aligned forces and are part of buying groups; for example, IPAG (Independent Pharmacists of Australia Group) and Pharmacy Alliance have 800 members between them. As it stands today, truly independent pharmacies account for just 20% of pharmacy numbers. Key Success Factors IBISWorld identifies 250 Key Success Factors for a business. The most important for this industry are: Superior financial management and debt management Companies should ensure that effective cash flow management controls are in place. Production of goods currently favoured by the market The product mix needs to be appropriate for the target market; the products stocked are perceived as offering value for money. Experienced work force The quality of staff needs to be high to ensure quality customer service. Attractive product presentation The store layout and display of stock must encourage customers to purchase and reinforce the company image. Proximity to key markets The store needs to be located where there is a high volume of passing traffic and preferably near a medical practitioner or a medical centre. Membership of joint marketing or distribution operations A key success factor for companies in this industry is having an association or affiliation with a buying group or chain. Ability to control stock on hand Companies need to ensure adequate stock controls are in place in order to reduce inventory costs and increase stock turns. Cost Structure Benchmarks The profitability of an individual pharmacy can vary in line with the sales mix between prescription medicines (which have a low margin) and front-ofstore sales (which have a higher margin but also attract greater competition). In the case of the former, prescription medicines have prices or margins that are set by the government via the PBS and via Community Pharmacy Agreements. In recent years, pharmacy profitability has been affected by rising competitive pressures and tight (if not falling) margins; this is certainly the case with dispensary gross profit margins, which have been adversely affected by the introduction of higher cost drugs as well as by the ongoing PBS reforms. Recent moves by upstream wholesalers to cut their discounts or credit terms offered to pharmacies (also in view of the ongoing PBS reforms)

19 Pharmacies in Australia June Competitive Landscape Cost Structure Benchmarks continued have also had an adverse effect. As is typical of most wholesale and retail industries, purchases are the largest expense for the industry, representing approximately two-thirds of industry sales. The next largest individual expense is wages and salaries (including the proprietor s), which are estimated to account for about 19% of revenue. This in part reflects the high skill base of the industry s labour force. Rental costs are also a significant (and increasing) expense, particularly for pharmacies located in prime locations and in large shopping malls who tend to pay considerably higher rents relative to those located in rural areas or in street strip locations with lower footfalls. Sector vs. Industry Costs Percentage of revenue Average costs of all industries in sector ( ) Industry costs ( ) Profit Rent utilities depreciation Other wages Purchases 20 0 SOURCE: Basis of Competition Level & Trend Competition in this industry is Medium and the trend is Increasing To some degree the nature of the industry s operating and regulatory environment limits competition within the Australian pharmacies industry. Under legislation, which dates back to the late 1800s, only pharmacies and hospitals are able to dispense prescription medicines. In addition, since the start of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), which commenced in the 1950s and today covers about 80% of prescription products dispensed (which covers 760 medicines available in 1,960 forms and 3,950 brands), it is only those pharmacies that have been granted the necessary regulatory approval that can compete in this market. In addition, there are restrictions on where dispensing pharmacies may locate for PBS purposes (Pharmacy Location Rules). Moreover, pharmacies are cushioned from competition on certain product lines. Chemist-only (CO) refers to the practice of manufacturers or wholesalers that supply branded non-scheduled pharmaceutical and other health and beauty lines only through pharmacies. This has served to partially protect pharmacies from external competition as supermarkets and mass merchandisers

20 Pharmacies in Australia June Competitive Landscape Basis of Competition continued have been unable to break into the dispensing end of the pharmaceutical market. In addition under regulatory legislation, ownership of pharmacies is limited to pharmacists who in turn are only allowed to own a limited number of pharmacies. Much of the income earned by the pharmacies is derived from governmentfunded remuneration and the fixed retail prices of products dispensed under the PBS. This means that there is limited competition within this particular product segment, which is estimated to account for as much as 70% of sales in some instances, depending on the business model employed. Thus, the price competition that does occur between pharmacies predominantly revolves around nonprescription items and front-of-store products such as cosmetics, toiletries, baby needs and film development services. The exceptions are the pharmacy discounters which include the likes of Chemist Warehouse (which now has in excess of 200 large store discount operations as well as an online operation), United Discount Chemists and Discount Drug Stores who are now also competing on the basis of lower prescription price medicines. Pharmacies can also compete on the basis of service, advice, location, product range and quality. Given their almost homogenous nature, pharmacies can either choose to compete on the basis of value added service where they provide a high level of service, or they can follow the discount model and provide fewer services while discounting prices. In recent years, traditional community pharmacies have faced a growing degree of competition from both within and outside of the industry. Internal competition has come from the advent of low-price warehouse style pharmacies. There has also been the gradual growth in the number of online and mail order pharmacies (including the likes of epharmacy, Pharmacy Online, Chemist Direct, Chemist Works and Ezichem Online Chemists). These online pharmacies are gradually becoming an increasing source of external competition. Pharmacies have also been under growing pressure from external sources including supermarkets and other non-pharmacy outlets (such as health and beauty niche retailers and discount department stores), which have been increasing their product range to encompass products previously stocked by pharmacies only, including various OTC products. For example, supermarkets tend to stock substitutes for the most widely used non-scheduled chemist-only products. In comparison to supermarkets, pharmacies tend to offer a higher level of service and a wider range of brands while supermarkets tend to compete on price and convenience. A significant development was the 2002 decision by mass merchandiser Priceline (now owned by pharmaceutical wholesaler API) to enter the pharmacy segment with the opening of its first pharmacy in August One decade later, it now operates 1800 plus pharmacies (although these are actually owned by individual pharmacists as opposed to Priceline-API). Supermarket chain Woolworths has also tried to break into the industry on a number of occasions with plans to operate pharmacies within its supermarkets, although to date it has been unsuccessful. In view of the changing competitive environment, several pharmacies have chosen to be part of banner groups, which are essentially marketing groups offering branded advertising and promotional support services. In turn, a number of the banner groups (including the likes of AMCAL, Guardian, Chemmart and Soul Pattinson) are operated by the three full-line/cso pharmaceutical wholesalers that dominate the pharmaceutical industry (namely Symbion Healthcare-Zuellig, Australian Pharmaceutical Industries and

21 Pharmacies in Australia June Competitive Landscape Basis of Competition continued Sigma). Alternatively, pharmacies may be part of a buying or retail support group (such as Pharmacy Best Buys and Pharmacy Choice) in a move designed to obtain higher percentage discounts for high volume purchases although many of these are also run by the same upstream wholesalers. Even independent pharmacies can be members of groups such as The Independent Pharmacists of Australia Group (IPAG) which has 400 pharmacy members, the Pharmacy Alliance group with 420 members, SmarterPharm (80 pharmacies) and United Discount Chemists (42 members). As at the start of 2012 it is estimated that less than 20% of all pharmacies can be considered as true independents. Barriers to Entry Level & Trend Barriers to Entry in this industry are High and Steady The major barriers to entry are centred on the high level of regulation surrounding the retail pharmacy sector, in particular, ownership laws, which limit the ownership of pharmacies to registered pharmacists. Pharmacy Location Rules also control the location of approved pharmacies. Despite mounting pressures for the deregulation of the retail pharmaceutical market, these restrictions continue to be retained. On the other hand ownership restrictions have also prevented the growth of major players or chains capable of dominating the market, which can in many cases, prove to be a substantial barrier. Though saying that, a number of pharmacies have elected to become part of banner groups operated by upstream pharmaceutical wholesalers or in some instances franchised operations as in the case of Priceline Pharmacy or Terry White Chemists. Over the past decade upstream wholesalers have played with a number of retail models essentially barriers to entry checklist Competition Concentration Life cycle stage Capital intensity Technology change Regulation and policy Industry assistance Level Medium Low Mature Low Medium Heavy Medium SOURCE: designed to strengthen their position within the retail pharmacy segment. There has also been the entry of other new format players including large scale discount pharmacies which is again serving to redefine the competitive landscape of the industry. At the same time however recent years have seen the continued entry of new pharmacies. In there were 5,218 community pharmacies, up from 4,951 five years earlier. This suggests that entry barriers are not insurmountable. Industry Globalisation Level & Trend Globalisation in this industry is Low and the trend is Steady Reflecting the fact that the overwhelming majority of stores and pharmacies are Australian owned, this industry has a low level of globalisation. However, two of the three pharmaceutical wholesalers that operate the main banner groups that account for roughly one-third of all pharmacy numbers have some degree of international operations.