McKesson
A Canadian healthcare distribution, pharmacy-services, specialty-pharmaceutical, automation, and health-solutions business wholly owned by McKesson Corporation.
Last updated October 19, 2026
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Overview
McKesson Canada is the Canadian operating business of McKesson Corporation, a large healthcare-services group headquartered in the United States. Its Canadian activities span pharmaceutical distribution, specialty pharmaceuticals, pharmacy technology and automation, health-management solutions, information services, and retail-pharmacy operations. The business serves several parts of the Canadian healthcare supply chain rather than functioning solely as a consumer-facing pharmacy brand: it connects manufacturers and healthcare providers, supports pharmacies with distribution and business services, and operates or supplies pharmacy banners and related networks. The Canadian operation traces its corporate development to McKesson Corporation's acquisition of a full interest in Medis Health and Pharmaceutical Services from Provigo in 1991. The business adopted the McKesson Canada name in 2002, bringing its activities more visibly under the global McKesson identity. Its business structure has included McKesson Pharmaceutical, McKesson Automation, McKesson Specialty, McKesson Health Solutions, and McKesson Information Solutions. This combination reflects McKesson's broader strategy of integrating physical healthcare distribution with software, automation, specialty-care support, and services for pharmacies and providers. Retail pharmacy expansion became a major Canadian theme during the 2010s. In 2012, McKesson agreed to acquire the Canadian pharmacy banners IDA, Guardian Pharmacy, and The Medicine Shoppe from the Katz Group. In March 2016, it announced a substantially larger proposed acquisition of the Rexall pharmacy business from the same seller. The Rexall transaction was completed in December 2016 after approval under the Investment Canada Act. In April 2017, McKesson Canada announced an agreement to acquire 330 Uniprix pharmacies, further increasing its presence in the Canadian pharmacy market. The company subsequently closed 40 Rexall locations in Ontario and Western Canada in May 2018, illustrating the operational restructuring that can accompany large-scale retail consolidation. McKesson Canada's positioning combines national-scale procurement and logistics with local pharmacy brands and services. Its wholesale activities are designed to move prescription medicines and healthcare products through pharmacies and other care settings, while its specialty and health-solutions activities address more complex clinical, administrative, and supply-chain needs. Pharmacy automation and information solutions extend the business beyond conventional wholesaling by helping pharmacies and healthcare organizations manage inventory, workflow, dispensing, and related operations. The Canadian business is part of a multinational group whose wider activities include pharmaceutical distribution, medical supplies, healthcare technology, and health-management tools. McKesson Corporation is publicly traded in the United States, but McKesson Canada is a wholly owned operating subsidiary rather than a separately listed company. Public reference material identifies the Canadian operation's acquisitions and business units but does not establish a distinct Canadian founding year, separate public financial statements, or a complete current roster of Canadian executives. Accordingly, those fields are left unspecified here.
History
McKesson's history begins with a nineteenth-century New York City business that imported and wholesaled botanical drugs. The enterprise was founded in 1828 as Charles M. Olcott and was renamed Olcott, McKesson & Co. after John McKesson became involved in 1833. Following Charles M. Olcott's death in 1853, Daniel Robbins joined the organization, which became McKesson & Robbins. The company gradually broadened its wholesale activities and established a durable position in the American pharmaceutical trade. The most consequential early crisis came in 1938. Phillip Musica, using the name F. Donald Coster, became associated with the company and concealed a large fraud involving fictitious assets, false records, and the diversion of corporate funds. The scandal damaged the company and became an important event in the development of American auditing and securities regulation. McKesson survived through a financial restructuring and continued operating under the McKesson & Robbins name. In 1967, Foremost Dairies acquired McKesson & Robbins in a hostile takeover. The resulting company was named Foremost-McKesson. During the following period, the corporation owned businesses outside pharmaceutical distribution, including dairy operations and a wine division. The dairy interests were sold in 1982, after which the corporate name was changed to McKesson Corporation. The change marked a renewed emphasis on healthcare and related services. McKesson expanded geographically and technologically during the late twentieth century. It acquired FoxMeyer in 1996, bringing the Health Mart pharmacy network into its portfolio, and pursued a major healthcare-technology expansion through the 1999 acquisition of HBO & Company. The HBOC combination created accounting and governance problems that resulted in litigation, executive departures, prosecutions, and a temporary corporate name of McKessonHBOC. In 2001, the company returned to the McKesson name. During the 2000s, McKesson used acquisitions to build a broader healthcare-information and workflow platform. It acquired NDCHealth-related assets through its purchase of Per-Se Technologies, expanded RelayHealth activities, acquired Practice Partner, and purchased other clinical, pharmacy, and payment-technology businesses. The company also strengthened its medical-supply and specialty-care activities. In 2010, it acquired US Oncology for approximately $2.16 billion and integrated the business into McKesson Specialty Health. In 2013, it acquired PSS World Medical, expanding its medical-surgical distribution presence. McKesson's international scale increased substantially in the 2010s. In 2014, it acquired Celesio, creating one of the world's largest healthcare companies and adding major European pharmaceutical-wholesale and pharmacy operations. McKesson later reorganized its international portfolio, including a German wholesale joint venture with Walgreens Boots Alliance and the eventual sale of most of its European operations. In Canada, the company expanded through purchases involving IDA, Guardian, The Medicine Shoppe, Rexall, and Uniprix, although it subsequently divested its Canadian retail businesses. The company also faced increasing legal and regulatory scrutiny. In 2008, McKesson paid a penalty related to the failure to report large hydrocodone orders. In 2012, it reached settlements with the federal government and multiple states concerning allegations that it inflated prices and overbilled Medicaid. In 2017, it agreed to a further $150 million federal civil penalty concerning controlled-substance monitoring and suspicious-order reporting. Opioid-related litigation continued, including claims brought by states and local governments. In 2022, McKesson and other pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors agreed to a multibillion-dollar nationwide opioid settlement framework with most states. Technology portfolio management continued in the late 2010s and 2020s. McKesson announced in 2016 that it would combine its information-technology business with Change Healthcare, but the company later exited the relationship and gave up its ownership interest and board seats in 2020. In 2019, McKesson moved its headquarters from San Francisco to Irving, Texas, and Brian Tyler became chief executive officer. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted McKesson's distribution capabilities. In August 2020, the CDC and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services selected the company as the centralized distributor for COVID-19 vaccines and ancillary kits under Operation Warp Speed. McKesson began shipping vaccine doses in December 2020 and continued supporting national and international public-health distribution efforts. The company reported delivering hundreds of millions of doses and related supplies during the pandemic response. More recently, McKesson has concentrated on specialty care, oncology, multispecialty services, biopharma support, and prescription-technology networks. In 2025, it agreed to acquire an 80% interest in PRISM Vision Holdings and announced plans to separate Medical-Surgical Solutions into an independent company. In 2026, the company completed its exit from European operations, reported fiscal-year revenue of $403.4 billion, named Kenny Cheung as its incoming chief financial officer, and continued preparing the Medical-Surgical separation while expanding oncology and ophthalmology platforms.
- 2026
Fiscal 2026 results and continued portfolio optimization
[3]McKesson reported $403.4 billion in fiscal 2026 revenue and continued its European exit and Medical-Surgical separation plans.
- 2025
PRISM Vision acquisition agreement
[5]McKesson agreed to acquire an 80% interest in PRISM Vision Holdings for approximately $850 million.
- 2025
Medical-Surgical separation announced
[9]McKesson announced plans to separate Medical-Surgical Solutions into an independent company.
- 2020
COVID-19 vaccine distribution role
[7]The CDC and HHS selected McKesson as a centralized distributor for COVID-19 vaccines and ancillary administration kits.
- 2019
Headquarters move and CEO transition
[1]McKesson moved its headquarters from San Francisco to Irving, Texas, and Brian Tyler became chief executive officer.
- 2014
Celesio acquisition
[1]McKesson acquired Celesio, significantly expanding its international pharmaceutical-wholesale and pharmacy operations.
- 2013
PSS World Medical acquisition
[1]The acquisition expanded McKesson's medical-surgical distribution and alternate-site-of-care activities.
- 2010
US Oncology acquisition
[1]McKesson acquired US Oncology for approximately $2.16 billion and integrated it into McKesson Specialty Health.
- 2001
Return to the McKesson name
[1]The combined company reverted from McKessonHBOC to McKesson.
- 1999
HBO & Company merger
[1]The merger expanded McKesson's healthcare-information-technology ambitions but was followed by accounting irregularities at HBOC.
Products and positioning
A scaled, integrated healthcare infrastructure provider combining pharmaceutical and medical-supply distribution with specialty-care support, pharmacy services, healthcare technology, data, and logistics.
Pharmaceutical distribution
McKesson Pharmaceutical
McKesson's core pharmaceutical-distribution business supplies branded, generic, specialty, and other prescription medicines to pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, health systems, and other providers. The business uses national distribution centers, inventory systems, transportation networks, and data-driven supply-chain processes to move medicines from manufacturers to points of care.
Medical supplies and equipment
McKesson Medical-Surgical
McKesson Medical-Surgical distributes medical supplies, equipment, vaccines, and related products to physician offices, surgery centers, home-health agencies, laboratories, long-term-care facilities, and other alternate sites of care. It also offers online ordering, private-label products, logistics, and supply-management services. McKesson announced plans in 2025 to separate the segment into an independent company.
Specialty-care services · 2010
McKesson Specialty Health
McKesson Specialty Health supports community-based specialty practices through distribution, practice management, clinical research, data, analytics, reimbursement, and operational services. Oncology has been a central focus, with the company supporting providers through the US Oncology Network and related specialty platforms.
Oncology practice network
The US Oncology Network
The US Oncology Network is a network of community oncology practices supported by McKesson. Its services can include practice-management infrastructure, clinical research participation, analytics, operational support, purchasing, and care-delivery resources intended to help community oncologists provide complex cancer care outside large academic centers.
Independent-pharmacy network · 1996
Health Mart
Health Mart is a McKesson-owned brand and support network for independently owned and operated pharmacies. Participating pharmacies use the Health Mart identity and may receive access to purchasing programs, technology, marketing, business services, and operational support while retaining local ownership and management.
Ophthalmology and retina services
PRISM Vision Group
PRISM Vision Group provides administrative and management support to ophthalmology and retina practices and surgery centers. Its capabilities include practice operations, revenue-cycle support, prior authorization, information technology, compliance, research infrastructure, and other services designed to reduce administrative demands on clinicians.
Healthcare information technology
RelayHealth and related healthcare technology
McKesson's healthcare-technology activities have included connectivity, pharmacy workflow, clinical information, payment, claims, and health-system software. Historically associated businesses such as RelayHealth and McKesson Provider Technologies served pharmacies, providers, payers, health systems, and other participants in the healthcare ecosystem.
Controversies
2022
Nationwide opioid settlement framework
McKesson, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and Johnson & Johnson agreed to a multibillion-dollar settlement framework with most states resolving large volumes of opioid-related litigation.
2021
Former employee sued McKesson alleging racial discrimination
A former McKesson employee filed a lawsuit alleging that the company discriminated against him on the basis of race. He claims that African American employees were terminated over sample-account use while non-African American team members who also used the account were not terminated. The allegations are claims in the lawsuit.
2021
New York reaches $1.1 billion opioid settlement with distributors
New York agreed to a $1.1 billion settlement with Cardinal Health, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen over claims that they helped fuel the opioid epidemic. The agreement requires the distributors to create a clearinghouse of opioid shipments to help flag suspicious orders.
2020
Oklahoma opioid lawsuit
Oklahoma sued McKesson and other pharmaceutical distributors, alleging that their distribution practices contributed to the state's opioid crisis and resulted in excessive supplies reaching local communities.
2020
Oklahoma sues opioid distributors
In a lawsuit filed by Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter, Cardinal Health, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen were named as defendants. The suit alleged that the companies distributed an oversupply of opioids into Oklahoma. The report describes the companies' liability as alleged and does not establish it. The event is recorded as a legal action brought by the state's attorney general against the three distributors, centered on the allegation of oversupply of opioids in Oklahoma.
2017
Controlled-substance monitoring and opioid litigation
The Department of Justice alleged that McKesson failed to maintain adequate controls and report suspicious orders of controlled substances. The company agreed to a $150 million civil penalty and additional restrictions affecting several distribution centers.
2012
Medicaid pricing and billing settlements
McKesson agreed to pay $190 million to the United States and later $151 million to California and 28 other states to resolve allegations that it inflated prices and overbilled Medicaid.
1999
HBOC accounting irregularities
Following McKesson's merger with HBO & Company, accounting irregularities at HBOC caused a major loss in market value and led to executive dismissals, legal proceedings, and prosecutions.
1938
McKesson and Robbins fraud scandal
Senior executive Phillip Musica, using the identity F. Donald Coster, was involved in a scheme that created fictitious assets and diverted company funds. The scandal became a landmark event in the history of American corporate auditing and securities regulation.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020Operation Warp Speed COVID-19 vaccine distribution
United States · International public-health programs
McKesson served as the U.S. government's centralized distributor for COVID-19 vaccines and ancillary administration kits under Operation Warp Speed and CDC direction. The program relied on dedicated distribution facilities, temperature-controlled logistics, state and federal coordination, and large-scale kit assembly.
Outcome. McKesson began distributing Moderna vaccine doses in December 2020 and later supported distribution of Johnson & Johnson doses and ancillary kits associated with other vaccines. Company materials reported delivery of more than 246 million Moderna and Johnson & Johnson doses in the United States by December 2021.
Brand decisions
2026
Continue European exit and specialty-care concentrationStrategyBackground
McKesson continued simplifying its geographic and operating portfolio.
Action taken
The company completed the sale of its Norway retail and distribution businesses and continued investing in oncology, multispecialty care, biopharma services, and ophthalmology.
Aftermath
McKesson reported fiscal 2026 revenue of $403.4 billion and described portfolio optimization as a central part of its growth and capital-allocation strategy.
Consolidated revenue. $403.4 billion (Fiscal year ended March 31, 2026)
2025
Acquire controlling interest in PRISM Vision HoldingsM&ABackground
McKesson identified ophthalmology and retina care as a growth area adjacent to its existing specialty and oncology platforms.
Action taken
McKesson agreed to acquire an 80% interest in PRISM Vision Holdings while physicians retained the remaining 20%.
Aftermath
The transaction was designed to create a national retina and ophthalmology platform with practice-management, data, research, and biopharma-partnership capabilities.
Purchase price for 80% interest. Approximately $850 million (Announced February 4, 2025)
2025
Separate Medical-Surgical SolutionsStrategyBackground
McKesson stated that portfolio discipline and capital allocation required greater focus on specialty care, oncology, biopharma services, and other growth areas.
Action taken
The company announced plans to separate Medical-Surgical Solutions into an independent company and began evaluating the appropriate transaction structure.
Aftermath
The separation process continued through fiscal 2026, including financing activities and an agreement for Apollo Global to acquire a minority interest in the segment, subject to approvals.
2020
Exit Change Healthcare ownershipStrategyBackground
McKesson reassessed the structure and strategic fit of its healthcare-information-technology holdings.
Action taken
McKesson gave up its ownership interest in Change Healthcare and its three board seats.
Aftermath
The move reduced McKesson's direct exposure to the combined technology company and continued a broader portfolio-realignment process.
2014
Acquire CelesioM&ABackground
McKesson pursued international scale in pharmaceutical wholesaling and pharmacy operations.
Action taken
McKesson acquired Celesio and substantially expanded its European footprint.
Aftermath
The transaction made McKesson one of the world's largest healthcare companies, although many European activities were later divested.
2010
Acquire US OncologyM&ABackground
McKesson sought to strengthen its specialty-care and oncology platform.
Action taken
McKesson acquired US Oncology and integrated it into McKesson Specialty Health.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded McKesson's oncology practice-management, clinical research, data, and distribution capabilities.
Acquisition price. $2.16 billion (2010)
1999
Merge with HBO & CompanyM&ABackground
McKesson sought to expand beyond physical distribution into healthcare information technology.
Action taken
McKesson merged with HBO & Company and operated temporarily as McKessonHBOC.
Aftermath
Accounting irregularities at HBOC led to a major share-price decline, executive departures, prosecutions, and a return to the McKesson name.
1967
Accept Foremost Dairies acquisitionM&ABackground
McKesson & Robbins was acquired in a hostile takeover by Foremost Dairies.
Action taken
The combined company operated as Foremost-McKesson and temporarily included substantial dairy and other non-pharmaceutical activities.
Aftermath
The dairy business was sold in 1982 and the corporation returned to the McKesson name, reinforcing its healthcare focus.
Recent events
- 2026
McKesson reports fiscal 2026 revenue of $403.4 billion[3]
Other
McKesson reported fiscal-year revenue of $403.4 billion for the year ended March 31, 2026, along with 12% revenue growth and 18% adjusted earnings-per-share growth. The company highlighted specialty-care expansion, biopharma services, European divestitures, and the planned separation of Medical-Surgical Solutions.
- 2026
Kenny Cheung named successor to retiring CFO Britt Vitalone[4]
Leadership change
McKesson announced that Britt Vitalone would retire after a long career with the company and that Kenny Cheung would become executive vice president and chief financial officer effective May 29, 2026.
- 2025
McKesson signs agreement to acquire controlling interest in PRISM Vision Holdings[5]
M&A
McKesson agreed to acquire an 80% interest in PRISM Vision Holdings for approximately $850 million. PRISM provides administrative and management support to ophthalmology and retina practices and was intended to become part of McKesson's U.S. Pharmaceutical segment.
- 2025
McKesson announces planned separation of Medical-Surgical Solutions[9]
Other
McKesson announced its intention to separate the Medical-Surgical Solutions segment into an independent company, describing the move as a way to focus capital and management attention on specialty care, oncology, biopharma services, and other strategic growth areas.
- 2020
McKesson becomes centralized COVID-19 vaccine distributor[7]
Other
Under Operation Warp Speed and direction from the CDC, McKesson began distributing Moderna COVID-19 vaccines and ancillary administration kits. The company also supported distribution of kits associated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and later Johnson & Johnson doses.
- 2018
McKesson Canada closes 40 Rexall locations[1]
Other
The Canadian business closed 40 Rexall locations in Ontario and Western Canada as part of post-acquisition retail-network changes.
- 2017
McKesson Canada reaches agreement to acquire Uniprix pharmacies[1]
M&A
McKesson Canada announced a deal to acquire 330 Uniprix pharmacies, expanding its Canadian retail-pharmacy footprint.
- 2016
McKesson announces acquisition of Rexall[1]
M&A
McKesson announced an agreement to buy the Rexall Canadian pharmacy chain from the Katz Group. The transaction was completed in December 2016 after approval under the Investment Canada Act.
- 2012
McKesson agrees to acquire Canadian pharmacy banners from Katz Group[1]
M&A
McKesson agreed to purchase the Canadian IDA, Guardian Pharmacy, and The Medicine Shoppe chains from the Katz Group of Companies for reported consideration of $920 million.
Sources20 sources
- 1McKesson Corporationen.wikipedia.org
- 2McKesson Investor FAQsinvestor.mckesson.com
- 3McKesson Fiscal 2026 Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year Resultsmckesson.com
- 4McKesson Announces Planned CFO Transitionmckesson.com
- 5McKesson PRISM Vision Acquisition Announcementinvestor.mckesson.com
- 6McKesson Announces New Organizational Structureinvestor.mckesson.com
- 7McKesson COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Announcementmckesson.com
- 8U.S. Department of Justice McKesson Opioid Settlementjustice.gov
- 9McKesson and Medical-Surgical Separation Earnings Call Transcriptinvestor.mckesson.com
- 10John McKesson joins and the McKesson name emergesmckesson.com
- 11Operation Warp Speed COVID-19 vaccine distributionmckesson.com
- 12Oklahoma sues opioid distributorspublicradiotulsa.org
- 13Oklahoma sues opioid distributorstheguardian.com
- 14Oklahoma sues opioid distributorsfreep.com
- 15Oklahoma sues opioid distributorsbridgemi.com
- 16Former employee sued McKesson alleging racial discriminationlawstreetmedia.com
- 17New York reaches $1.1 billion opioid settlement with distributorsbtpm.org
- 18McKesson Raises FY22 Earnings Guidance; Announces $4bln Rise In Share Buyback Drivefinanznachrichten.de
- 19McKesson, private equity firm buy home infusion company, Option Care Health - Managed Healthcare Executivenews.google.com
- 20Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Constellation Energy, Option Care Health, Lennar, P&G and morecnbc.com
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