TORONTO — Loblaw Cos. has been named the preferred pharmacy service provider for the Towers Watson Canadian Rx Coalition, a network of private-sector drug plan sponsors.
Professional services firm Towers Watson said Tuesday that the pharmacy alliance with Loblaw will enable employers to give workers access to a range of drug store health resources, support overall health and wellness needs, and better manage the costs of their health benefit plans.
The Canadian food and drug retailer has about 500 pharmacies across the banners of its more than 1,000 supermarkets. Its stores also are home to more than 100 medical clinics, 100 optical shops and 60 Goodlife Fitness facilities, as well as in-store dietitians and a variety of patient education programs.
"Loblaw pharmacies are a cornerstone of our company’s health and wellness strategy, and this alliance with Canadian Rx Coalition is a tremendous opportunity to bring our quality of pharmacy care, wellness services and expert drug management to Canadian employers and their employees," Dean Miller, vice president of pharmacy operations at Loblaw, said in a statement.
Towers Watson noted that its Canadian Rx Coalition provides members more efficient plan management, support for pharmacy benefits and clinical management, and now the services of a preferred pharmacy provider network. The company said that employers leveraging the preferred network will realize savings versus the cost of a typical drug plan, while managing escalating drug costs.
"We’re very excited about our partnership with Loblaw," stated Wendy Poirier, leader of the Canadian health and group benefits practice at Towers Watson. "It is a win-win for both employers and employees. The coalition provides the resources that plan sponsors and members need to manage their health and drug programs more effectively. Our agreement with Loblaw will now ensure that Coalition members benefit from the pharmacy services and unique health and wellness experience available through a preferred care provider."
