The Pharmacy Guild, an influential lobby group representing thousands of pharmacies, says the $8.8 billion merger between Sigma Healthcare and Chemist Warehouse should not proceed because the group would control more than half the revenue in the sector and offers to lessen the impact are tokenistic.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is assessing whether to allow the deal to go ahead, and is expected to decide early next month. It has already delayed its decision twice, and described the transaction as a major structural change to the pharmacy market.