MALVERN, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 27, 2000--AmeriSource Health Corporation (NYSE:AAS), the largest provider of pharmaceuticals to the acute care/institutional market, today announced that members of hospital alliances VHA Inc. and the University Health System Consortium have voted AmeriSource the top pharmaceutical distributor in a customer service satisfaction survey.
Novation, the supply company of VHA and UHC recently signed a new three-year agreement with AmeriSource and four other pharmacy distributors, two national and two regional firms. Novation members purchase nearly $6 billion in pharmaceutical supplies annually through authorized distributors.
"We are very excited about continuing our long-standing relationship with Novation and its members," said R. David Yost, AmeriSource president and chief executive officer. "The agreement and the survey results reflect our continuing commitment to Novation as a business partner and our focus on our core pharmaceutical distribution business. This new agreement is an opportunity to significantly expand our market share in major markets across the U.S."
The agreement also calls for Novation members to have access to the entire portfolio of AmeriSource value-added programs and services, including two of the most recent additions: Virtual Internet Pharmacy (VIP), an internet portal designed to allow retail pharmacies and outpatient clinics to penetrate the online market, and Drug Sampling.com, an automated system to assist in controlling and documenting the dispensing of drug samples in hospital facilities.
AmeriSource, with over $10 billion in operating revenue, is one of the nation's leading, full-service wholesale distributors of pharmaceutical products and related healthcare services. Headquartered in Malvern, PA, the Company serves its base of 21,000 customer accounts through a national network of 24 strategically located distribution facilities. AmeriSource is the industry's largest provider of pharmaceuticals to the acute care/institutional market. For more information about AmeriSource, visit our website at www.amerisource.com.
Novation was established January 1, 1998, through the combination of the supply programs of VHA and UHC, two national health care alliances. Novation serves the purchasing needs of 6,600 health care organizations, members and affiliates of VHA, UHC and HPPI. The largest supply cost management company in health care, Novation manages more than $14 billion in annual purchases for VHA, UHC and HIPPI members. For more information go to htpp://www.novationco.com.
CONTACT: AmeriSource Health
Corporation G. L. James, Chief Financial Officer
610/993-7736
jjames@amerisource.com