Amalgamated Pharmaceuticals

Amalgamated Pharmaceuticals, a member of the Amalgamated HealthCare Group, is a leading black economic empowerment (BEE) organization in South Africa’s pharmaceutical sector -­was formed in 1997 by the merger of five major pharmaceutical distribution companies.

Amalgamated Pharmaceuticals (AP) is a full-line, nation-wide wholesaler that is focused exclusively on the pharmaceutical market.  Our single-minded vision is to build and maintain mutually beneficial partnerships with manufacturers and health care providers

Amalgamated Pharmaceuticals Limited celebrated its 10th anniversary last year - but the five individual pharmaceutical distribution companies originally involved in its merger boast a track record of more than 60 years’ service.

And “service” is the key word for the company, which distributes pharmaceuticals, patents, surgicals, disposables, equipment and instruments.

At present, APL’s distribution footprint covers not only the Republic of South Africa, but also Botswana, Namibia and Lesotho, with a fleet of 150 vehicles that make it an industry leader in successful deliveries to townships and remote rural areas.  The bulk of the company’s clients are based in or near urban townships, and in rural communities, and comprise 5500 dispensing doctors, over 1500 dispending pharmacies, more than 100 provincial hospitals and around 1300 clinics.

This makes APL a major role player in the delivery of primary healthcare and the company plans to extend its footprint even further afield in the near future.

Based in Johannesburg, Amalgamated Pharmaceuticals is not only 100% black-owned, but fully committed to the use of local community resources and the consequent transfer of skills and technology.  This policy of developing SMMEs owned and operated by previously disadvantaged individuals has resulted in the establishment of more than 20 newly empowered suppliers to APL.

The company’s objective of sustained black empowerment and workplace reform is reflected in is own staffing practices. With a full 90% of its own staff consisting of black employees, APL transfers its values – and technical skills - to its employees through tailor-made SETA training programmes; its commitment to training goes further, however, which is why Amalgamated Pharmaceuticals also makes its in-house training centre available to other organisations and bodies within the industry.

The company’s own training focuses strongly on service and this is reflected in the fact that members of its telesales staff, many of whom have been with APL since its formation, have transformed their clients into friends.

Given its background and beliefs, Amalgamated Pharmaceuticals is a dedicated and deeply committed proponent of social investment. Responsive to the needs of the communities within it operates and that it serves, the company operates a mobile clinic in Gauteng townships, and awards bursaries to prospective pharmaceutical students; it operates feeding programmes at township schools, and supports deserving cases within the pharmaceutical sector by means of donations.

Proudly a member of its community and proudly fully BEE-compliant, APL is as proud of its warm relationships with all stakeholders in the industry, from its own staff to its equally loyal suppliers and clients; their support has enabled the company to record 10 very successful years in a highly competitive industry.

For Amalgamated Pharmaceutical Limited the end of this first decade marks the beginning of a great many more serving the community, not only within South Africa, but right across southern Africa.