Founder Jack Marchese (left) and President & CEO Marita Zaffiro

Our story

Since 1988, Marchese Health Care has been owned by Marita Zaffiro, B.Sc.Phm., MBA, a well-known figure for her leadership in pharmacy practice, her entrepreneurship and her charitable endeavours. Ms. Zaffiro re-engineered Marchese Pharmacy, a small community pharmacy established in 1961, into Marchese Health Care, a company with a province-wide reach.

Marchese Health Care takes pride in delivering quality products and services with a strong commitment to client-centred care. Our community pharmacy is well known for delivering services to clients living in a multicultural and low socio-economic community where there is a need for broader health information. The ability to provide health services in 26 languages has attracted a diverse client base and we actively recruit new Canadians to support our multilingual services.

In addition to our dispensing pharmacy, we reach out to patients receiving care in their homes with infusion therapy services, a wide range of medical supplies and specialized medication programs.

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Throughout the company's history, a highly focused attention to the needs of our customers and the regional health-care sector have resulted in numerous business successes. Highlights include:

• 2010 - Marchese opens its first location outside of Hamilton -- at 1601 River Road East in Kitchener, servicing clients of the Waterloo Wellington CCAC.
• 2010 - Marchese Health Care is awarded the Waterloo Wellington Community Care Access Centre medical supplies and infusion equipment contract.
• 2005 - Marchese Health Care receives accreditation by the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation (now Accreditation Canada).
• 2004 - Marchese Health Care receives ISO 9001:2000 registration, becoming the first community-based pharmacy in Canada to achieve this milestone.
• 2001 - Marchese is awarded Hamilton Community Care Access Centre contracts for home infusion services and general medical supplies.
• 1999 - Marchese is awarded home infusion services contracts for the Brant and Niagara Community Care Access Centres.
• 1992 - Home intravenous therapy service begins.
• 1991 - Medication management service is introduced.
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Our motto, "your health... our care" reflects our dedication to continuous quality improvement in the care of our clients. The efforts have been recognized locally, provincially and nationally:

• 2009 - Marchese Health Care is honoured with the Commitment to Care & Service Award for Charitable Work, a national award sponsored by Pharmacy Practice and Drugstore Canada magazines, divisions of Rogers Publishing Healthcare Group.
• 2009 - Marita Zaffiro is awarded the Ontario Medical Association's Community Service Award for her "significant contribution to the health and welfare of the people of a local community."
• 2007 - Marita Zaffiro is named one of the Canadian Pharamacists Association’s Centennial Pharmacists, one of the 100 most influential Canadian pharmacists of the last 100 years.
• 2006 - Marchese Health Care receives the Settlement & Integration Services Organization Employer Recognition Award for our recognition of the value of employees who have been educated and trained outside of Canada.
• 2005 - Ontario Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Business Achievement Award nominee
• 2005 - Winner of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Business Achievement Award
• 2005 - Marchese Health Care is named a regional finalist in the 50 Best Managed Companies in Canada program.
• 2005 - Marita Zaffiro wins the Athena Award for her professional merits, community activities and assisting women in attaining professional excellence
• 2005 - Winner of two Pharmacy Post 2004 Drugstore Outstanding Service Awards:
  • - Outstanding Owner
  • - Outstanding Service Innovation
• 2002 - Commitment to Care Award for Best Pharmacist/Technician Team from Pharmacy Practice magazine
• 1999 - Distinguished Practice Award, Ontario Pharmacists Association
• 1998 - Award for Commitment to Health Care Delivery in the Community, Hamilton-Wentworth Council
• 1998 - Marita Zaffiro named the City of Hamilton’s Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award
• 1998 - Innovative Practice Award, presented by the Canadian Pharmacists Association