Training program for Amcal and Guardian staff

The 2008 Sigma Retail Training Program was developed for Sigma's branded pharmacies - Amcal, Amcal Max and Guardian - along with selected independent pharmacies aligned to the Sigma Embrace Program.

The program will include retail, health and personal development training modules and will be delivered "face-to-face", with attendees having access to online units.

Guild and Sigma facilitators will jointly deliver 140 classroom-style sessions to an anticipated audience of 10,000 to 15,000 participants across metropolitan and regional centres throughout Australia.

Elmo de Alwis, chief executive officer and managing director of Sigma Pharmaceuticals, said the program offered significant added value to Sigma's branded pharmacies and independent Embrace customers.

"The objective of this alliance is to build on Sigma's current retail training programs by incorporating key health and professional topics.

"These programs will be further enhanced with the additional expertise of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia," Mr de Alwis said.

Kos Sclavos, Guild national president, said the Guild was keen to be involved and delighted that Sigma was supportive of Guild training.

"All pharmacy team members will benefit from this initiative, from the owner/pharmacist through to the next generation of new employees.

"The Pharmacy Guild is excited at the prospect of being able to deliver quality training to a significant number of pharmacy teams in 2008," Mr Sclavos said.