Manulife leading the industry and putting customers first with a new, comprehensive approach to medical marijuana

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WATERLOO, ON, July 31, 2018 /CNW/ - Today, Manulife announced it will launch this fall the first medical marijuana program in Canada, in collaboration with Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation. The program will be available as an option for participating Group Benefits plans and individual health insurance plans in Canada.

Through Manulife's unique partnership, Shoppers Drug Mart specially trained pharmacists, at an Ontario-based patient care centre, will support Manulife customers who have been approved for medical marijuana coverage, giving them the guidance they need to have confidence in their choice of treatment. They will advise on the different strains of medical marijuana and the different ways to take it. Based on this support, Manulife customers can choose the treatment that best meets their needs and that is covered under their Manulife Benefits plan.

"Medical marijuana can be complex. Most medically-authorized patients need help finding the right solution for their condition," said Donna Carbell, Senior Vice President, Group Benefits. "Manulife's medical marijuana program will ensure people have appropriate advice, make informed decisions and receive the support they need to choose the appropriate strain for their condition."

"Shoppers Drug Mart's trusted healthcare professionals can provide patients with greater attention and support to navigate the complexities of medical cannabis therapies," said Mark Rolnick, Vice President, Employer Health Solutions, Shoppers Drug Mart. "We are excited about this new partnership and its ability to help Manulife customers live their lives well."

Manulife customers will receive ongoing case management with pharmacists from Shoppers Drug Mart's patient care centre supporting them through education, regular check-ins, counselling, and phone and email support.

More details will be made available when the program goes live.

About Manulife
Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services group that helps people make their decisions easier and lives better. We operate primarily as John Hancock in the United States and Manulife elsewhere. We provide financial advice, insurance, as well as wealth and asset management solutions for individuals, groups and institutions. At the end of 2017, we had about 35,000 employees, 73,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving more than 26 million customers. As of March 31, 2018, we had over $1.1 trillion (US$850 billion) in assets under management and administration, and in the previous 12 months we made $26.9 billion in payments to our customers. Our principal operations are in Asia, Canada and the United States where we have served customers for more than 100 years. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges and under '945' in Hong Kong.

About Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation
Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation is one of the most recognized and trusted names in Canadian retailing. The Company is the licensor of full-service retail drug stores operating under the name Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix in Québec). With more than 1,300 Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix stores operating in prime locations in each province and two territories, the Company is one of the most convenient retailers in Canada. The Company also licenses or owns 46 medical clinic pharmacies operating under the name Shoppers Simply Pharmacy (Pharmaprix Simplement Santé in Québec) and four luxury beauty destinations operating as Murale. As well, the Company owns and operates 43 corporate Shoppers Home Healthcare stores, two new Wellwise by Shoppers Drug Mart stores and an ecommerce site Wellwise.ca, making it the largest Canadian retailer of home health care products and services. In addition to its retail store network, the Company owns Shoppers Drug Mart Specialty Health Network Inc., a provider of specialty drug distribution, pharmacy and comprehensive patient support services, and MediSystem Technologies Inc., a provider of pharmaceutical products and services to long-term care facilities. Shoppers Drug Mart is an independent operating division of Loblaw Companies Limited.

For more information, visit shoppersdrugmart.ca.

SOURCE Manulife Financial Corporation

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