Clicks rolling out new pharmacies across South Africa

Clicks has received new pharmacy licences from the Department of Health and is rolling out new pharmacies across South Africa.
On Tuesday, 21 January 2025, Clicks announced that the new licences followed after it resolved the Unicorn Pharmaceuticals licensing matter.
Unicorn Pharmaceuticals was the manufacturing arm of the Clicks Group and faced licensing problems due to regulatory issues.
In May 2016, the Independent Community Pharmacy Association (ICPA) complained to the Department of Health that Clicks’ ownership of Unicorn violated regulations.
The association argued that regulations prohibited pharmacies from owning pharmaceutical companies.
It resulted in a prolonged legal battle, and in March 2023, the Constitutional Court ruled in favour of the ICPA.
The Department of Health stopped processing new Clicks pharmacy licenses in May 2023., forcing the company to address the issue.
In August 2024, Clicks sold Unicorn Pharmaceuticals to ensure it abided by the regulations and court ruling.
The Department of Health subsequently started granting Clicks new licenses. To date, it has received 27 new licences.
Clicks announced that it had opened eleven new pharmacies in November and December 2024 and plans to accelerate the expansion programme in the months ahead.
This rollout will strengthen Clicks’ position in the South African market and support its growth strategy.
The company’s trading update for 20 weeks to 12 January 2025 showed it increased group turnover by 8.1%. Retail sales were up 8.7%, and distribution turnover was 9.5% higher.
The group’s retail sales, which includes Clicks, The Body Shop and Sorbet corporate stores, increased by 8.7%.
Turnover from Unicorn Pharmaceuticals, which was sold on 1 August 2024, has been excluded from the current and prior periods.
“The disposal of Unicorn Pharmaceuticals has no impact on the turnover of the group or distribution segment,” Clicks said.