Healthcare

Our flagship pharmacy chain Healthguard is not just a leader in Sri Lanka’s premium pharmacy retail sector but also, undoubtedly, a pioneer that sets the standard on excellent service delivery. Healthguard’s central premise is to deliver high-quality pharmaceuticals and wellness products, and a host of other items, to an increasingly discerning consumer segment that has come to value quality above all other considerations.

Colombo’s high-end pharmacy space is admittedly a crowded one, and our 16 outlets – all located in the Colombo metropolitan area – stand out by offering a level of sophistication that our competition may be hard pressed to match across three fundamental pillars: ambiance, product offering, and service excellence driven by expertise and technology. Our middle and upper-middle-income base has recognised this and our commitment to a holistic healthcare experience, rewarding the brand with their loyalty.

Healthguard also sets itself apart by its retail model which has been built on professional guidance and customer education, with all outlets designed to create an inviting, service-oriented atmosphere where customers receive a personalised service and expert consultation.

The product portfolio primarily comprises pharmaceuticals and wellness products – which draw in 54% and 40% of Healthguard’s revenue, respectively – categorised as “upmarket”, aligning with the brand’s identity as a high-street pharmacy chain serving the upwardly mobile, though it certainly strives to be an equal-opportunity service provider. This is a sensible approach, considering that our consumers are often prescribed medications of a higher price range by their physicians. Our curated selection, with its higher price point, is therefore a natural selling point for this particular demographic. The remaining 5% of the revenue comes from supplements, medical devices, and FMCG items such as chocolates and convenience goods that also tend to be of premium quality.

Further differentiating Healthguard’s value proposition is a newly introduced ‘Purple Service’ protocol, a structured approach that seeks to facilitate a consistent, more engaging customer experience. A home delivery service we call ‘Pharmacist Direct’ has also been launched, which sees trained pharmacists provide in-person consultations that go beyond mere delivery.

Despite growing and increasingly stiff competition from new and well-established brands alike, Healthguard has been able to stay on top, thanks in large part to its promise of personalised quality. Every outlet is staffed by qualified pharmacists who have been trained to provide accurate information, adhering to the strictest standards.

Ambience is central to the Healthguard experience. At Healthguard, we believe that the physical layout and overall look and feel of our outlets must reflect an atmosphere conducive to a pleasant shopping experience. Every outlet is designed to offer a calm, modern retail environment, with clean layouts, curated displays, and an almost slavish adherence to storage protocols. This meticulous attention to detail, from store design to product merchandising, speaks to the exemplary role Healthguard has played in setting the benchmark for pharmacy retailing in Sri Lanka.

Healthguard is no mere pharmacy, however. It’s also a lifestyle store modelled on formats seen in more developed markets, offering wellness products alongside impulse-driven categories that complement everyday purchases. The aim is to create a space where convenience meets care.

Muh of this is made possible by advanced technology. An automated ordering engine connects with over 160 suppliers, generating over 300 weekly orders with minimal manual input. This highly sophisticated system predicts, with a great degree of precision each outlet’s stock needs, and also flags alternatives, enabling pharmacists to offer informed choices to customers.

The 2024–25 financial year was in some ways a turning point for Healthguard, with the business delivering one of its strongest performances to date, despite continued economic and regulatory headwinds.

While a 9.2% revenue increase, improved margins, and disciplined cost controls drove this performance, service innovation was also central to it. The rollout of the Purple Service protocol, a standardised customer engagement initiative delivered via 14 training videos, proved instrumental in improving the in-store service experience, setting a new benchmark and serving to cement our position as Colombo’s go-to high-end pharmacy chain.

Healthguard also broke new ground in 2024-25 with Pharmacist Direct, a brand new delivery model that sees licensed pharmacists provide home consultations alongside medication delivery. In a clear departure from run-of-the-mill courier-led models that are essentially a glorified delivery service, this initiative responded to rising demand for convenience while maintaining clinical standards, giving Healthguard a comfortable lead in service excellence.

Healthguard’s product mix also continued to evolve during the year under review, blending high-quality pharmaceuticals with a wellness portfolio that has seen some resurgence since the tumultuous conditions of the past several years. Stabilising consumer sentiment allowed for the return of exclusive international brands, including premium supplements and beauty and personal care lines.

Backed by Sunshine’s technology infrastructure and utilising Group synergies, Healthguard also deepened its use of purchase data to drive targeted marketing during the year, boosting basket value and loyalty by promoting wellness add-ons alongside essential medicines.

Looking ahead, Healthguard enters the next fiscal year with renewed vigour and momentum, doubling down on service, smart expansion, and customer engagement – well-positioned to lead Sri Lanka’s premium healthcare retail space. We are also looking to expand our geographical footprint with two new stores to be opened in Malabe and Colombo, further strengthening our growing reach within a high-potential urban corridor.