What Medipost Pharmacy does

Medipost Pharmacy, founded in 1991 and headquartered in Pretoria, South Africa, operates as the country's first national courier pharmacy. The company's core service is the delivery of chronic medication to patients' homes or chosen addresses at no additional cost, processing approximately 730,000 prescriptions per month and serving over 595,000 patients nationwide. The operational backbone consists of a 1,736-person organization including 469 pharmacists and pharmacist assistants with dedicated medical scheme responsibilities, a 192-seat call centre operating in all 11 official South African languages, and a 15+ location collection point network spanning major South African cities. Technology infrastructure centers on chronic medicine supply and management systems adhering to Good Pharmacy Practices (GPP), multi-courier parcel tracking integrations with SkyNet, Speed Services Couriers, Courier IT, and the in-house MediLogistics, and an online shop (shop.medipost.co.za) for ancillary product sales. Specialty divisions handle oncology, renal, and HIV medication management with dedicated pharmacists tracking current treatment regimens.

The revenue model operates on three streams: contracted dispensing fees from medical scheme members (recurring monthly subscription-like revenue), private/self-pay patient transactions, and specialized professional services for oncology, renal, and HIV care. Pricing is not publicly disclosed — co-payments depend on individual medical scheme benefits, formulary status, and generic versus brand selection, with payment methods including debit order, credit card, and direct deposit. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through courier delivery, a network of physical collection points, a walk-in pharmacy in Pretoria, and the e-commerce storefront. The go-to-market combines medical scheme contracts and doctor referrals with patient self-registration via email, phone, and WhatsApp. Medipost is BBBEE Level 1 certified, POPIA and PAIA compliant, and contracts with most South African medical schemes including Discovery, Bonitas, Gems, Medihelp, and Momentum. Wholly-owned subsidiaries Kawari Wholesalers (in-house pharmaceutical supply) and MediLogistics (specialized delivery) provide vertical integration across the supply chain. The company also partners with the South African Department of Health to dispense chronic medications for public-sector patients, positioning itself as a candidate partner for the country's National Health Insurance initiative.

Name

Medipost Pharmacy

Legal name

Medipost Pharmacy

Website

https://medipost.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

South Africa's first national courier pharmacy, dispensing approximately 730,000 chronic medication prescriptions per month to 595,000+ patients via free nationwide delivery, contracted with most major medical schemes and operating specialty oncology, renal, and HIV divisions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mail-Order Pharmacy Services

NAICS

Pharmacies and Drug Retailers (45611), Pharmacies and Drug Retailers (456110)

SIC

Retail-Drug Stores And Proprietary Stores (5912), Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122)

akta.pro primary industry

Mail-Order & Home Delivery Pharmacies (HLAFALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mail-Order Pharmacy & Home Delivery (HLAEAKAF), Pharmacy & Health Essentials Delivery (CRAFAFAI), Telepharmacy & Prescription Fulfillment Marketplaces (HLALALAF), Injectables & Specialty Medication Support (e.g., insulin, biologics) (HSABALAG)

Keywords

• Chronic medication delivery
• Courier pharmacy services
• Oncology medication management
• Medical scheme dispensing
• Specialty pharmaceutical services

Headquarters

HQ city

Pretoria

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Medical Scheme Dispensing: Medipost dispenses chronic medication and healthcare products to medical scheme members at competitive dispensing fees. The company is contracted to most medical schemes in South Africa.
2. Private Patient Services: Services for private patients who pay out-of-pocket for medication, including those who have exhausted their medical aid benefits.
3. Specialized Healthcare Services: Oncology, Renal and HIV medication management services with personalized assistance and specialized counseling.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Medipost Pharmacy is a national courier pharmacy that dispenses and delivers chronic prescription medication to more than 595,000 patients across South Africa, processing approximately 730,000 prescriptions per month. Its core service covers prescription receipt, pharmacist verification, medical scheme authorization, dispensing, packaging and free home delivery, supported by a 192-seat call centre operating in all 11 official South African languages. The company also operates specialized oncology, renal and HIV medication divisions and an online shop for additional health products such as glucometers, glucose strips, insulin pumps and supplements.

Product overview

Medipost Pharmacy operates as a national courier pharmacy offering a unified platform of medication management and delivery services. The core offering is the Chronic Medication Delivery Service, which handles prescription dispensing and nationwide courier delivery at no additional cost. This core service is supplemented by specialized oncology, HIV, and renal care divisions, an online shop for health products, a multi-courier parcel tracking system, a network of collection points, and telephonic pharmacist consultations available in all 11 official South African languages. The company processes approximately 730,000 prescriptions per month serving over 595,000 patients across South Africa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Chronic Medication Delivery Service Core pharmacy service delivering chronic prescription medication to patients nationwide via courier at no additional cost. Covers prescription receipt (email or call centre), pharmacist verification, medical scheme authorization, dispensing, packaging and home delivery within 2 working days. Serves more than 595,000 patients and dispenses approximately 730,000 prescriptions per month. Contracted to most South African medical schemes including Discovery, Bonitas, Gems, Medihelp and Momentum with reduced dispensing fees; private/self-pay patients also served.
• Oncology Services Specialized oncology medication management service with a dedicated facility for Oncology, Renal and HIV medication management. Includes dedicated specialized staff and pharmacists aware of the latest treatment regimens, personal relationships with Managed Care Organisation staff, specialized counseling and medication advice to patients, home deliveries for daily-use oncology tablets, and monthly chronic medication deliveries. The Cape Town regional office maintains a dedicated oncology department for the Western Cape. Oncology enquiries are handled by Amanda Busch (Manager, Pharmacist) and Johan de Lange (Document Workflow Administrator).
• HIV/AIDS Pharmacy Services Antiretroviral therapy (ART) and related chronic HIV medication delivery with confidential pharmacy consultations. Includes dedicated confidential HIV enquiry channel (hiv-enquiries page), multilingual pharmacist consultations across all 11 official South African languages, and connection to HIV support partners including CANSA and Aid for AIDS for emotional and practical support services.
• Renal Care Services Dedicated renal team supporting patients with renal medication and supplies delivered to dialysis units and individual patients across South Africa. Covers pre-transplant treatment medications, immunosuppressant therapy for transplant patients, and ongoing medication for dialysis patients. Coordination with dialysis units nationwide, supported by MediLogistics for delivery.
• Medipost Online Shop E-commerce storefront at shop.medipost.co.za where patients can manage accounts, pay bills ([email protected]), and purchase health products including glucometers, glucose testing strips, lancets, insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and supplements. Supports account access via 'myaccount' functionality.

Quantifiable outcome

• 730,000 prescriptions dispensed per month
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Medical Aid Schemes (Various)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMedipost is contracted to most medical schemes in South Africa including Discovery, Bonitas, Gems, Medihelp, Momentum, and others for dispensing chronic medication and processing claims through medical scheme benefits.
• Dialysis UnitscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDialysis units across South Africa rely on Medipost Pharmacy's dedicated renal team for deliveries of health supplies and chronic medications required by patients on dialysis.
• CANSA (Cancer Association of South Africa)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedipost connects oncology patients with CANSA for emotional and practical support services as part of comprehensive cancer care.
• Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough a partnership with the Department of Health, Medipost dispenses and packages chronic medications for public-sector patients across various provinces.
• Courier Partners (SkyNet, Speed Services, Courier IT, MediLogistics)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMedipost partners with multiple courier services including SkyNet, Speed Services Couriers, Courier IT, and MediLogistics for parcel tracking and delivery across South Africa.
• Healthcare OrganizationsminorOthersPartnerships with healthcare organizations including Aid for AIDS, CANSA, Diabetes South Africa, Hello Doctor, and others for patient support and health management resources.
• Kawari WholesalerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKawari Wholesalers, part of Medipost Holdings Group, handles in-house supply and distribution, sourcing medicines directly from pharmaceutical manufacturers.
• MediLogisticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMediLogistics, the group logistics company, transports medications to Medipost Pharmacy adhering to Good Pharmacy Practice standards and delivers patient-ready parcels.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CVS Caremark: CVS Caremark is a US-based pharmacy benefit manager and mail-order pharmacy that operates at massive scale. While it does not compete in South Africa, it represents the mature end-state for chronic medication mail-order and PBM integration.
• Shoppers Drug Mart (Loblaw): Shoppers Drug Mart is Canada's largest retail pharmacy chain with significant mail-order and specialty pharmacy operations, providing a useful international benchmark for the mail-order/specialty pharmacy business model Medipost operates.

Direct peers

• Clicks Group: Clicks Group operates the largest pharmacy retail network in South Africa (Clicks Pharmacy) with extensive chronic medication and scheme capabilities. It is a direct competitor on retail dispensing and is actively expanding into chronic prescription delivery.
• Dis-Chem Pharmacies: Dis-Chem is South Africa's largest listed retail pharmacy chain with a national footprint and a growing chronic medication delivery service. It directly competes with Medipost on retail dispensing, scheme contracts, and courier delivery in urban centres.
• Alpha Pharm: Alpha Pharm is a South African network of independent community pharmacies that provides dispensing, scheme administration, and chronic medication services. It competes for the same medical scheme and chronic patient segments as Medipost.
• Zur Rose / DocMorris: Zur Rose Group (now DocMorris) is a leading European mail-order and online pharmacy operator, providing the most direct international analogue to Medipost's chronic medication mail-order and home delivery business model.
• Right ePharmacy: Right ePharmacy is a South Africa-based automated dispensing pharmacy that uses ATM-style units and home delivery to dispense chronic medication, directly competing with Medipost in the mail-order chronic prescription market.
• Medirite (Pick n Pay): Medirite is the in-store pharmacy chain of Pick n Pay, offering retail dispensing and chronic medication services. It is a direct competitor for medical scheme dispensing contracts in the SA market.

Regional players

• Netcare Pharmacy: Netcare is a major South African private hospital group that operates in-hospital pharmacy services. While it focuses on inpatient dispensing, its scale and scheme contracts make it an adjacent competitor for specialty and chronic medication revenue.

Emerging players

• Amazon Pharmacy (PillPack): Amazon Pharmacy (built on PillPack) is an online mail-order pharmacy serving chronic patients. It illustrates the technology-led, direct-to-consumer disruption risk facing traditional mail-order pharmacy operators like Medipost.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/medipost

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Medipost Pharmacy