X/Procure® - Electronic Procurement & Media Solutions

Cipla Medpro believes that all South Africans should have access to world class, but affordable medicines, lessening the burden of high drug costs and bettering the health and lives of all South Africans. To assist the company achieve its objective, Cipla has been a long standing partner of X/Procure®, ensuring its products’ top of mind awareness among pharmacists. Partnering with X/Procure® over the last three years to ensure total pharmacy domination, Cipla is currently advertising in excess of 60 of its brands on X/Procure®’s electronic advertising platforms, and continually add to the basket as their range of Prescription and OTC products grow.

“Our dynamic partnership is more than just advertising. We strategically leverage our expertise to benefit each other. Success is evident in how X/procure®’s offerings have assisted in continual growth experienced by Cipla,” confirms Deon Lewis, X/Procure®’s Managing Director.

“In addition, Cipla are famous for registering many new products on the market, mainly first generics. They utilise X/Procure® extensively as a launch platform to pharmacy in order to embed their products into the market as effectively and efficiently as possible.” “The pharmacists have access to the Cipla advertisements exactly when they are about to place their electronic orders,” adds Lewis. “Our system is mainly used by pharmacists for bulk ordering, providing an ideal opportunity for manufactures to advertise, promote and create awareness for their brands. Ask Cipla, it works!”

X/procure® Pharmacy is an electronic procurement software system currently installed in over 50% of South African pharmacies. It facilitates the purchase of scheduled and over-the-counter pharmaceutical, surgical and front shop requirements directly from wholesalers and distributors.

"Operation Speak-up", a week-long anti-crime clampdown linked to Primedia' Crimeline, has resulted in scores of arrests for crimes including possession of drugs, sexual abuse and armed robbery.

"Operation Speak-up" urged the public to come forward with information and blow the whistle on crimes and criminals by sending their anonymous tip-offs to Crimeline's SMS line, 32211, and website, www.crimeline.co.za.

Special SAPS teams throughout the province analysed and acted on the tip-offs received during the week, which resulted in 17 arrests. A number of other investigations are still continuing and more arrests are expected soon.

Ten people were arrested in Sophiatown, Randburg, Lenasia, Linden, and Bramley for the possession of and dealing in drugs including dagga and cocaine rocks. Drugs were also seized.

One arrest was made in Ivory Park for sexual abuse; two in Villieria for possession of counterfeit goods; one in Alexandra for possession of stolen property to the value of R20 000; two in Nigel for armed robbery and one in Booysens for the possession of counterfeit cigarettes.

Gauteng police spokesperson, Director Govindsamy Mariemuthoo said the clampdown proved that the more awareness that is generated around Crimeline, the more arrests result.

"Almost 460 suspected criminals have been arrested and almost R20-million of stolen property, drugs and counterfeit goods have been seized since the launch of Crimeline," said Mariemuthoo.

"We encourage the public to continue smsing their tip-offs through to Crimeline, especially information about serious and violent crimes like murder, rape, ATM bombings, hijackings, and armed robbery."

Crimeline head, Yusuf Abramjee said it is vital that the public include detailed information when sending their tip-offs - names, addresses, descriptions, vehicle registration numbers if applicable and the offence being committed."Crimeline guarantees anonymity and now is the time to use it," said Abramjee.

"Each and every criminal that is taken off our streets is a victory for the honest and law abiding members of our community. You can contribute to a safer South Africa by simply sending an SMS to 32211 or going to the Crime Line website. This tip-off service is working, use it!"

Crime Line was launched in June last year. "It's working and we are giving the criminals a tough time. Through "Operation Speak-up" 17 people were arrested. Let's continue to pass on intelligence to the SAPS via Crime Line," said Abramjee.

He added that information was also coming in about criminals involved in xenophobic attacks and looting. Police are following-up on this.

For information on Crimeline contact Crimeline manager, Yusuf Abramjee at 082 441 4203, or log onto www.crimeline.co.za. For queries relating to the SAPS, contact SAPS Director, Sally de Beer at 082 779 8658.