Mediq is a Dutch health care company, which provides pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, by operating apothecaries and by delivering to medical centres and patients. The company is active in 15 countries and in 2012 had a revenue of €2.61 billion. Since 2013, it has been owned by Advent International.
History
Founded in 1899 as "Onderlinge Pharmaceutische Groothandel" (English: Mutual Pharmaceutical Wholesale Company), it was a cooperative association of apothecaries who did not want medicine to be supplied by unauthorised people, and who started creating their own pharmaceuticals on a small scale. Over time activities increased and in 1988 it was renamed as "Coöperatieve Apothekers Vereniging OPG U.A." (English: Cooperative Apothecaries Association OPG U.A.) - wholesale was removed from the name, however it remained in the abbreviation OPG.
In 1992 the company was listed on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange and this was followed on 10 January 2001 when the association became a joint-stock company (naamloze vennootschap) under the name "OPG Groep NV" (English: OPG Group NV). In 2009 the name was finally changed to Mediq NV, the current official name.
In a 2011 tactical analysis by Mediq it was concluded that leaving the stock exchange and becoming a privately owned company, was the best longterm strategy.[1]