Pharmacy masquerading as Dischem

At the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, outside the Terminal A security check in area, there is a pharmacy that cannot be missed.

On its entrance, a big display saying "Dischem Pharmacy" greets you.

If you think it is a Dischem Pharmacy retail outlet or a franchised outlet, think again. IT IS PRIVATELY OWNED and the staff would not provide any details of its owners. Fair enough!!

The problem is that this outfit who also display the name "Transit Pharmacy" on the side in very small lettering, takes advantage of the good name and reputation of the brand Dischem. Their prices are their own, they do not recognize the Dischem Benefit Card and unlike Dischem, do not sell certain OTC type medicines like Myprodol less than the pack size (in this case 30 tablets).

A regular Dischem pharmacy would charge nationwide Dischem prices, honour their own store card and gladly sell you 10 or 15 Myprodol tablets if you do not want the full box of 30.

The problem does not end here. While I had this awful experience of buying a full pack at inflated prices instead of 10, nearly two years ago (even more probably), I brought this to the attention of Dischem via a call to their Customer Care Line more than an year ago.

The agent thanked me for bringing the matter to their attention, was non-committal about her being personally aware of the outlet.

I left the matter there.

Lo and behold, on 02 Jan 2026, as I was seeing off family, I see that signage again!!

So, in the last more than 13 odd months, Dischem has not found it necessary to take any action in in the matter. Action to protect their name and the goodwill associated with their brand.

It appears that they do not want to !! probably they are also enjoying the benefits of taking a percentage off the revenue of the outlet as royalty for use of their name.

And who suffers - gullible customers, who walk in thinking it is their favourite or second favourite (if you are a Clicks customer) pharmacy, and are forced to pay for last minute purchases as there is nowhere else to go!!

Quite a cosy relationship, I must say.

For the customer? who's bothered!