Omnicell has completed the acquisition of UK-based SurgiChem, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bupa Care Homes (CFG), following approval from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the UK.
CFG will now be integrated with Omnicell's existing UK business, MTS medication technologies, acquired in 2012. There will be no impact on the operations of both the companies as of now.
Omnicell chairman, president and CEO Randall Lipps said: "As is the case globally, UK healthcare professionals and caregivers are seeking to improve patient outcomes, reduce medication errors and lower costs by effectively managing compliance to prescribed medication regimes.
"This acquisition is a clear opportunity to bring together the experience of two technology leaders with the mission to extend patient health and satisfaction through convenient, effective medication adherence solutions."
According to data released by the World Health Organization, poor adherence to medication leads to increased morbidity and death. About 50% of patients in developed countries do not take their medications as prescribed, and up to two-thirds of all medication-related hospitalizations is the result of non-adherence.
Resolution of medication non-adherence that has been estimated to cost up to $290bn annually in the US and 500m annually in the UK by health care systems and community pharmacies can lead to an improvement in clinical outcomes and financial results.
SurgiChem provides medication adherence packaging solutions to the UK care home and domiciliary care markets. Its monitored dosage system is supplied to a network of over 3,200 independent pharmacies and larger UK pharmacy chains.