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The developer of a home delivery service for prescription medicines hopes to ease the burden placed on pharmacies and help those most vulnerable to Covid-19.
Listed digital medication management company MedAdvisor (ASX: MDR) has fast-tracked the rollout of its medicine delivery service, which it believes will assist in slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Patients can now order, pay and request delivery of their medication all from within the MedAdvisor app.
CEO Robert Read says MedAdvisor's role in managing the coronavirus crisis is vitally important.
"MedAdvisor is playing a critical role in remote medicines management in Australia during this health crisis," says Read.
"Our tools allow patients to track, manage and order their medications whilst at home. Now with the ability to pay in advance and request delivery from your pharmacy it can streamline the workflow for community pharmacies when managing patients remotely."
The service is particularly important considering Australians need to stay home as much as practicable and only leave the house to buy essential goods. One less reason to leave the house, especially for those who are particularly vulnerable to the novel coronavirus, can only help to flatten the curve.
"By fast-tracking the launch of the delivery service, MedAdvisor is helping to relieve pressure on pharmacists who are struggling at the front line of this crisis, further protecting patients from unnecessary exposure, and providing ongoing access to critical medications," says MedAdvisor.
"Over 30 per cent of MedAdvisor's App users are over 60 years old and may be at higher risk if they were to contract COVID-19 so providing a remote medicines toolkit is critical."
In addition, MedAdvisor's delivery service will facilitate the ability for pharmacies to access the $25 million cash pool for medication deliveries announced by the Federal Government on 10 March 2020.
The Federal Government is putting $5 toward every delivery to participating pharmacies to enable those who cannot leave their homes or under financial stress to save costs on delivery.
MedAdvisor will allow pharmacies to utilise their own delivery service or MedAdvisor's delivery partner.
Now that 'Phase 1' of MedAdvisor's launch of its delivery service is under way the company will be moving into 'Phase 2' during which it will be leveraging third-party delivery partner Kings Transport to conduct same day deliveries.
All prescription, over-the-counter or front-of-shop medicines can be ordered for delivery on MedAdvisor's app, with pharmacies retaining discretion over certain medication they may deem unsuitable for delivery.
Temporary measures are in place to provide no-contact delivery to avoid unnecessary contact with vulnerable patients.
Shares in MedAdvisor are up 21.21 per cent to $0.40 per share at 2:23PM AEDT.
Updated at 3:20PM AEDT on 26 March 2020.
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