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AFROX HEALTHCARE EXCEEDS PRE-LISTING FORECAST

Release Date: 27/10/1999 14:48
Code(s): AFX
Wrap Text
AFROX HEALTHCARE LIMITED

(FORMERLY PRESIDENT MEDICAL INVESTMENTS LIMITED "PRESMED")
AUDITED RESULTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 1999 REVENUE EXCEEDS PRE-LISTING FORECAST
EARNINGS PER SHARE AT 33,8 CENTS, ONE CENT HIGHER THAN FORECAST
DIVIDEND OF 8 CENTS A SHARE, MAKING A TOTAL OF 18,9 CENTS SINCE LISTING AFROX HEALTHCARE WELL POSITIONED TO MEET SEPTEMBER 2000 EARNINGS FORECAST DEAR SHAREHOLDERS PERFORMANCE
IN MY FIRST TERM AS CHAIRMAN OF AFROX HEALTHCARE LIMITED, IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE IN BEING ABLE TO REPORT THAT THE GROUP HAS POSTED EXCELLENT RESULTS AND HAS MET, AND EXCEEDED ITS PRE-LISTING FORECASTS. EARNINGS PER SHARE ARE ONE CENT HIGHER AT 33,8 CENTS.
THE RESULTS ARE FOR THE PERIOD TO 30 SEPTEMBER 1999. THEY COMPRISE SEVEN MONTHS OF PRESIDENT MEDICAL INVESTMENTS LIMITED (PRESMED), AND SIX MONTHS OF AFROX'S HEALTHCARE DIVISION. THEY ARE NOT STRICTLY COMPARABLE, OTHER THAN TO
DEMONSTRATE THAT THE NEW ENLARGED GROUP IS A MAJOR PLAYER IN THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR AND IS WELL POSITIONED TO MEET ITS SEPTEMBER 2000 FINANCIAL EARNINGS FORECASTS.
THE PERIOD TO 30 SEPTEMBER 1999 COMPARED TO PRESMED'S FEBRUARY 1999 YEAR END SAW REVENUE CLIMB 164 PERCENT TO R1 237,4 MILLION (R468,4 MILLION), WHILE OPERATING PROFIT IMPROVED 187 PERCENT TO R131,2 MILLION (R45,7 MILLION). PROFIT ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS INCREASED 118 PERCENT TO R66,7 MILLION (R30,6 MILLION) AFTER AN INCREASED TAX RATE OF 34,27 PERCENT (28,71 PERCENT) AND HIGHER OUTSIDE SHAREHOLDERS' INTERESTS.
THE CONSOLIDATION AND LISTING OF THE TWO COMPANIES TOOK PLACE JUST PRIOR TO THE SEPTEMBER YEAR END, ALTHOUGH THE MERGER WAS EFFECTIVE 1 APRIL 1999. THE SYNERGISTIC BENEFITS OF THE MERGER ARE ON TRACK AND ARE EXPECTED TO BE REALISED IN THE FIRST FULL YEAR OF OPERATION. R10 MILLION IS EXPECTED BY THE END OF THE 2000 FINANCIAL YEAR WITH UP TO A FURTHER R30 MILLION BY THE END OF THE 2002 FINANCIAL YEAR. BUSINESS REVIEW
AFROX HEALTHCARE WAS LISTED ON THE JOHANNESBURG STOCK EXCHANGE ON MONDAY 4 OCTOBER 1999 AS A RESULT OF AFRICAN OXYGEN LIMITED (AFROX) REVERSE LISTING ITS HEALTHCARE INTERESTS INTO PRESMED. THE MERGER OF THE TWO COMPANIES WAS CONDUCTED WITH SPEED AND EFFICIENCY AND A NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM, LED BY MANAGING DIRECTOR, RICK HOGBEN, ESTABLISHED AN ORGANISATION COMBINING A DEPTH OF MANAGERIAL EXPERIENCE FROM BOTH THE OLD PRESMED AND THE AFROX HEALTHCARE DIVISION. RATIONALISING DUPLICATED SERVICES AND THE INTEGRATION OF CENTRALISED HUMAN RESOURCES, INFORMATION MANAGEMENT, AND FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION IS PROCEEDING WELL.
THE MERGER HAS POSITIONED THE GROUP STRATEGICALLY FOR FUTURE GROWTH, FORMING SOUTH AFRICA'S LEADING PRIVATE HEALTHCARE PROVIDER GROUP, WITH 60 HOSPITALS AND SAMEDAY SURGICAL CENTRES, INTERESTS IN A FURTHER 11 HOSPITALS AND SEVERAL SPECIALISED, FOCUSED HEALTHCARE SERVICES COMPANIES. THE GROUP HAS 7 100 BEDS. IN THE PAST YEAR R100 MILLION WAS INVESTED IN THE GROUP'S VINCENT PALLOTTI HOSPITAL IN CAPE TOWN. THE HOSPITAL WAS EXPANDED AND EQUIPPED TO INCORPORATE NEW SPECIALITIES SUCH AS CARDIOLOGY AND CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY, NEUROSURGERY AND GASTROENTEROLOGY. A RHEUMATOLOGY UNIT INCLUDING ORTHOPAEDIC SPECIALITIES, AN EMERGENCY UNIT, SURGICAL AND MEDICAL INTENSIVE CARE UNITS, AND STATE OF THE ART DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY FACILITIES WERE COMMISSIONED AND EXISTING FACILITIES WERE UPGRADED.
DEVELOPMENTS OF NOTE HAVE INCLUDED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ONCOLOGY UNITS AT THE GLYNNWOOD IN BENONI AND FLORA CLINIC ON JOHANNESBURG'S WEST RAND, WITH A THIRD UNIT UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT GABORONE PRIVATE HOSPITAL IN BOTSWANA. IN ADDITION THE ENTABENI HOSPITAL IN DURBAN HAS OPENED A LEVEL ONE EMERGENCY UNIT, A REVAMPED CARDIAC UNIT AND CARDIAC CATHETERISATION LABORATORY, AND A NEW MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FACILITY. MAJOR EXPANSION UPGRADE PROJECTS WERE UNDERTAKEN AT THE ANNCRON IN KLERKSDORP, THE MERCANTILE IN PORT ELIZABETH, BRENTHURST CLINIC IN JOHANNESBURG, AND AT FLORA CLINIC.
PROJECTS CURRENTLY UNDER WAY INCLUDE A SECOND HOSPITAL IN BOTSWANA,
SUIKERBOSRAND CLINIC IN HEIDELBERG WILL DOUBLE IN SIZE, A NEUROLOGICAL UNIT AT WILGEHEUWEL, THE EXPANSION OF THE BEDFORD GARDENS HOSPITAL AND THE ROLL OUT OF REHABILITATION UNITS INTO KEY GEOGRAPHIC AREAS.
THE GROUP'S HEALTHCARE SERVICES OPERATIONS WERE STRENGTHENED BY DIRECT MEDICINES' ACQUISITION OF HOME MEDICATION SERVICES (HMS), A CHRONIC MEDICATION MANAGEMENT COMPANY WITH ANNUAL REVENUE OF R150 MILLION. AFROHC, THE PRIMARY AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTHCARE COMPANY, WON SEVERAL MAJOR CONTRACTS. DIVIDENDS
YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS DECLARED A DIVIDEND OF 8 CENTS PER SHARE MEETING THE FORECAST GIVEN AT PRE-LISTING ON THE JOHANNESBURG STOCK EXCHANGE. THIS IS COVERED 4,2 TIMES BY EARNINGS. THIS FINAL COMPLEMENTS THE SPECIAL DIVIDEND OF 10,93 CENTS, MAKING A TOTAL DISTRIBUTION OF 18,93 CENTS SINCE THE SHAREHOLDERS' APPROVAL OF THE REVERSE LISTING. YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE
THE DIRECTORATE AND MANAGEMENT HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING, EVALUATING AND MANAGING THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE YEAR 2000. WE ARE PLEASED TO REPORT THAT OUR COMPLIANCE PROGRAMME HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF OUR COMPREHENSIVE Y2K PROGRAMME HAS COVERED OUR COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, AND HUMAN RESOURCE SYSTEMS. COMPUTER HARDWARE, INCLUDING NETWORK EQUIPMENT AND WORKSTATIONS HAVE BEEN UPGRADED AND CERTIFIED AS COMPLIANT BY THE RELEVANT SUPPLIERS. ALL EMBEDDED CHIPS WITHIN OUR HEALTHCARE OPERATIONS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND APPROPRIATE SUPPLIER GUARANTEES OBTAINED AFTER TESTING. WE HAVE DEVELOPED CONTINGENCY PLANS AROUND HIGH IMPACT RISK SCENARIOS AS ALL KNOWN INTERNAL RISKS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED, AND MANUAL OR BACKUP PROCESSES ARE IN PLACE IN CASE OF UNLIKELY SYSTEM OR EQUIPMENT FAILURE. EXTERNAL RISKS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED WITH CRITICAL SUPPLIERS AND CUSTOMERS. FUTURE PROSPECTS
THE GROUP HAS PERFORMED EXCELLENTLY. WE ARE NOW WELL POSITIONED WITH SCALE AND GEOGRAPHIC SPREAD, HIGHLY COST-EFFECTIVE SUPPORT AND ENABLING FUNCTIONS, AND INDUSTRY BENCHMARK BEST OPERATING PRACTICES. WE EXPECT HIGH GROWTH FROM BOTH OUR HOSPITALS, AND HEALTHCARE SERVICES COMPANIES. WE HAVE IN PLACE A SOLID GROUP WITH A STRONG BALANCE SHEET AND APPROPRIATE GEARING. IT IS IDEALLY POSITIONED FOR SOUND GROWTH IN A SECTOR WHICH WILL SEE EVER INCREASING DEMAND FOR THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE. ROYDEN VICE RICK HOGBEN CHAIRMAN MANAGING DIRECTOR JOHANNESBURG 27 OCTOBER 1999 DIVIDEND DECLARATION
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT A DIVIDEND OF 8,0 CENTS PER SHARE HAS BEEN DECLARED FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 1999, PAYABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS REGISTERED IN THE BOOKS OF THE COMPANY AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON FRIDAY, 26 NOVEMBER 1999. DIVIDEND CHEQUES WILL BE MAILED ON, OR ABOUT, 26 JANUARY 2000. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD I MATTHEE COMPANY SECRETARY REGISTERED OFFICE AFROX HOUSE, 23 WEBBER STREET SELBY, JOHANNESBURG, 2001 PO BOX 5404, JOHANNESBURG, 2000 TELEPHONE (27 11) 490-0400 AFROX HEALTHCARE LIMITED REGISTRATION NUMBER 85/01313/06 TRANSFER SECRETARY: MERCANTILE REGISTRARS LIMITED
ANGLO BUILDING, 8TH FLOOR, 11 DIAGONAL STREET, JOHANNESBURG, 2001 TELEPHONE (011) 370-5000
DIRECTORS: RT VICE (CHAIRMAN), RL HOGBEN (MANAGING DIRECTOR), JM MARRIOTT, DMJ NCUBE, CJPG VAN ZYL
THE DIRECTORS REPORT THAT THE CONSOLIDATED AUDITED RESULTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 1999 ARE AS FOLLOWS: (THE PERIOD INCLUDES 7 MONTHS OF PRESMED AND 6 MONTHS OF AFROX'S HEALTHCARE RESULTS) INCOME STATEMENT
7 MONTHS TO 12 MONTHS TO 30.9.99 28.2.99 R'000 R'000 REVENUE 1 237 434 468 424 OPERATING PROFIT 131 165 45 674 INTEREST PAID/(RECEIVED) 22 860 (4 510) EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS - 200 108 305 49 984 OUTSIDE PARTNERS' INTEREST 4 772 5 062 PROFIT BEFORE TAXATION 103 533 44 922 TAXATION 35 485 12 900 PROFIT AFTER TAXATION 68 048 32 022 RETAINED EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES 6 384 1 558 74 432 33 580 OUTSIDE SHAREHOLDERS' INTEREST 6 563 714 PREFERENCE DIVIDEND PAID BY SUBSIDIARY 1 139 2 313 PROFIT ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS 66 730 30 553 WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES IN ISSUE ('000) 197 256 61 505 HEADLINE EARNINGS PER SHARE (CENTS) 33,8 50,0 FULLY DILUTED HEADLINE EARNINGS
PER SHARE (CENTS) 33,5 47,1 DIVIDEND PER SHARE (CENTS) 8,0 14,0 SPECIAL DIVIDEND PER SHARE (CENTS) 10,93 - DIVIDEND COVER (TIMES) 4,2 3,6 HEADLINE EARNINGS IS DETERMINED AS FOLLOWS:
PROFIT ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS 66 730 30 553 ADJUSTMENTS FOR:
LOSS ON CLOSURE OF DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS - 357 PROFIT ON SALE OF FIXED PROPERTY - (157) HEADLINE EARNINGS 66 730 30 753 BALANCE SHEET
30.9.99 28.2.99 R'000 R'000 ASSETS
NON-CURRENT ASSETS 924 585 254 976 CURRENT ASSETS 603 472 144 850 TOTAL ASSETS 1 528 057 399 826 EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
CAPITAL AND RESERVES 822 588 276 542 OUTSIDE EQUITY HOLDERS' INTEREST 109 135 41 801 NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES 201 571 11 711 CURRENT LIABILITIES 394 763 69 772 TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES 1 528 057 399 826 CASH FLOW STATEMENT
7 MONTHS TO 7 MONTHS TO 30.9.99 28.2.99 R'000 R'000 CASH FLOWS FROM: OPERATING ACTIVITIES 174 521 13 119 INVESTING ACTIVITIES (750 042) (10 485) FINANCING ACTIVITIES 606 290 (3 740) NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN CASH AND
CASH EQUIVALENTS 30 769 (1 106) THESE RESULTS CAN ALSO BE VIEWED ON THE WEB SITE WWW.AFROX.COMHEALTHCARE MEDIA RELEASE WEDNESDAY, 27 OCTOBER 1999 AFROX HEALTHCARE EXCEEDS PRE-LISTING FORECASTS
THE RECENTLY LISTED AFROX HEALTHCARE LIMITED (AHEALTH) HAS POSTED EXCELLENT RESULTS AND HAS MET, AND EXCEEDED ITS PRE-LISTING FORECAST. EARNINGS PER SHARE ARE ONE CENT HIGHER AT 33,8 CENTS WITH REVENUES AT R1 237,4 MILLION (FORECAST: R1 028,7 MILLION).
IN ADDITION, THE 8 CENTS PER SHARE DIVIDEND FORECAST HAS BEEN MET. THIS FINAL COMPLIMENTS THE SPECIAL DIVIDEND OF 10,93 CENTS, MAKING A TOTAL DISTRIBUTION OF 18,93 CENTS SINCE THE SHAREHOLDERS APPROVAL OF THE REVERSE LISTING. THE 8 CENT FINAL IS COVERED 4,2 TIMES BY EARNINGS.
THE RESULTS ARE FOR THE PERIOD TO 30 SEPTEMBER 1999, AND COMPRISE SEVEN MONTHS OF PRESIDENT MEDICAL INVESTMENTS LIMITED (PRESMED) AND SIX MONTHS OF AFROX'S HEALTHCARE DIVISION. AS A RESULT COMPARISONS ARE DIFFICULT AND SHOULD RATHER BE REVIEWED AS A NEW LISTING.
CHAIRMAN OF AFROX HEALTHCARE LIMITED, ROYDEN VICE SAYS, "IT IS PARTICULARLY PLEASING TO REPORT SUCH A SOLID PERFORMANCE FROM OUR NEW LISTED HEALTHCARE GROUP. IT IS WELL-POSITIONED FOR FUTURE GROWTH AS THE MERGER OF THE TWO COMPANIES WAS CONDUCTED WITH SPEED AND EFFICIENCY. A NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM, LEAD BY MANAGING DIRECTOR, RICK HOGBEN, MOVED QUICKLY TO ESTABLISH HIS ORGANISATION. THIS ORGANISATION NOW REFLECTS THE COMBINED DEPTH OF MANAGERIAL EXPERIENCE FROM BOTH THE OLD PRESMED AND THE AFROX HEALTHCARE DIVISION. THE INTEGRATION OF HIGHLY COST-EFFECTIVE CENTRALISED HUMAN RESOURCES, INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION SERVICES IS ALSO PROCEEDING WELL."
AHEALTH WAS LISTED ON THE JOHANNESBURG STOCK EXCHANGE ON MONDAY 4 OCTOBER 1999, AS A RESULT OF AFRICAN OXYGEN LIMITED (AFROX) REVERSE LISTING IT HEALTHCARE INTERESTS INTO PRESMED. THIS MERGER ARGUABLY FORMED SOUTH AFRICA'S LEADING PRIVATE HEALTHCARE PROVIDER GROUP, WITH 60 HOSPITALS AND SAMEDAY SURGICAL CENTRES, INTERESTS IN A FURTHER 11 HOSPITALS, AND SEVERAL SPECIALISED, FOCUSED HEALTHCARE SERVICES COMPANIES. THE GROUP HAS 7 100 BEDS.
ACTUALS FOR THE PERIOD TO 30 SEPTEMBER 1999, COMPARED TO PRESMED'S FEBRUARY 1999 YEAR END ARE AS FOLLOWS: REVENUE UP 164 PERCENT AT R1 237,4M (R468,4M), OPERATING PROFIT UP 187 PERCENT AT R131,2M (R45,7M), AND AFTER AN INCREASED EFFECTIVE TAX RATE OF 34,27 PERCENT (28,71 PERCENT) AND HIGHER OUTSIDE SHAREHOLDER INTERESTS, PROFIT ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS INCREASED 118 PERCENT TO R66,7M (R30,6M).
RICK HOGBEN, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF AFROX HEALTHCARE SAYS, "THE CONSOLIDATION AND LISTING OF THE TWO COMPANIES TOOK PLACE ONLY A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE SEPTEMBER YEAR END, ALTHOUGH THE MERGER WAS EFFECTIVE 1 APRIL, 1999. AS A RESULT, MERGER SYNERGIES WILL ONLY BE REALISED IN THE 2000 FINANCIAL YEAR. WE PLAN TO REALISE R10 MILLION IN THE FIRST FULL YEAR, WITH UP TO A FURTHER R30 MILLION BY THE END OF THE 2002 FINANCIAL YEAR.
IN ITS PRE-LISTING CIRCULAR, THE GROUP FORECAST REVENUE OF R2,3 BILLION AND OPERATING PROFIT OF R307,5 MILLION FOR THE YEAR ENDING 30 SEPTEMBER 2000. THE FORECAST FOR EARNINGS PER SHARE ON A FULLY DILUTED BASIS WAS 63,9 CENTS AND VICE SAYS THAT THESE TARGETS SHOULD BE MET OR EVEN EXCEEDED.
THE STRONG BALANCE SHEET PUTS THE GROUP IN AN EXCELLENT POSITION FOR GROWTH, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OF WHICH IN THE PAST YEAR WAS THE R100 MILLION INVESTMENT IN THE GROUP'S VINCENT PALLOTTI HOSPITAL IN CAPE TOWN. THE FACILITY WAS EXPANDED AND EQUIPPED TO INCORPORATE NEW SUPER-SPECIALITIES SUCH AS CARDIOLOGY AND CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY, WHILE A REHABILITATION AND HYDROTHERAPY UNIT, AN EMERGENCY UNIT, SURGICAL AND MEDICAL INTENSIVE CARE UNITS, STATE-OF-THE-ART DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY FACILITIES WERE ALSO COMMISSIONED, AND EXISTING FACILITIES UPGRADED.
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS OF NOTE INCLUDED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ONCOLOGY UNITS AT THE GLYNNWOOD IN BENONI AND FLORA CLINIC ON JOHANNESBURG'S WEST RAND, WITH A THIRD UNIT UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT GABORONE PRIVATE HOSPITAL IN BOTSWANA; THE OPENING OF A LEVEL ONE EMERGENCY UNIT, A REVAMPED CARDIAC UNIT AND CARDIAC
CATHETERISATION LABORATORY, AND A NEW CUTTING-EDGE MRI FACILITY AT ENTABENI HOSPITAL IN DURBAN. MAJOR EXPANSION AND UPGRADE PROJECTS WERE ALSO UNDERTAKEN AT THE ANNCRON IN KLERKSDORP, THE MERCANTILE IN PORT ELIZABETH, BRENTHURST CLINIC IN JOHANNESBURG AND AT FLORA CLINIC.
PROJECTS UNDERWAY INCLUDE A SECOND HOSPITAL IN BOTSWANA, THE DOUBLING IN SIZE OF SUIKERBOSRAND CLINIC IN HEIDELBERG, A NEUROLOGICAL UNIT AT WILGEHEUWEL, THE EXPANSION OF THE BEDFORD GARDENS HOSPITAL AND THE ROLL-OUT OF REHABILITATION UNITS INTO KEY GEOGRAPHIC AREAS.
THE GROUP'S HEALTHCARE SERVICES OPERATIONS WERE STRENGTHENED BY DIRECT MEDICINES' ACQUISITION OF HOME MEDICATION SERVICES (HMS), A CHRONIC MEDICATION MANAGEMENT COMPANY WITH ANNUAL SALES OF R150 MILLION. IN ADDITION, THE PRIMARY AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTHCARE COMPANY, AFROHC, WON SEVERAL MAJOR CONTRACTS, INCLUDING ONE TO PROVIDE HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO
3 000 INMATES AT THE NEW GROOTVLEI MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON WHICH WILL BE OPENED NEXT YEAR.
IN CONCLUSION, ROYDEN VICE SAID THE EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE OF AFROX HEALTHCARE LIMITED IN THIS PERIOD SHOULD CONTINUE INTO THE FUTURE.
"WE ARE NOW WELL POSITIONED WITH SCALE AND GEOGRAPHIC SPREAD, HIGHLY
COST-EFFECTIVE SUPPORT AND ENABLING FUNCTIONS, AND INDUSTRY BENCHMARK BEST OPERATING PRACTICES. WE EXPECT STRONG GROWTH FROM OUR HOSPITALS, AND WELL ABOVE INFLATION GROWTH FROM OUR HEALTHCARE SERVICES COMPANIES. WE HAVE IN PLACE A SOLID GROUP WHICH IS GEARED FOR PERFORMANCE." ISSUED BY AFROX HEALTHCARE LIMITED (AHEALTH) FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
CHRIS FIELDGATE (INVESTOR RELATIONS) (011) 490-0554 CELL: 082-495-1481 ROYDEN VICE (CHAIRMAN) (011) 490-0590 CELL: 082-491-7162
RICK HOGBEN (MANAGING DIRECTOR) (011) 490-0501 CELL: 082-452-4037
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON AFROX HEALTHCARE LIMITED IS AVAILABLE ON INTERNET: WWW.AFROX.COM/HEALTHCARE

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