The Medicine Shoppe, which started operations in India in February 1999 and is now the largest organised pharmacy retail chain, will launch the country’s first Super Speciality Pharmacy outlet in Mumbai on Monday, that would stock drugs for treating cancer, AIDS and organ transplant medicines, among other critical care drugs. These are not available in local chemist shops due to inadequate storage conditions, which often make such drugs lose their potency. The drugs would also be home delivered, on request, at a price below maximum retail price.
For the millions suffering from critical diseases in India, this new concept is expected to revolutionise drug delivery in the field of retailed pharmacy, by giving patients more control in the purchase and delivery of critical drugs, say medical experts. "We will also have a home delivery facility for patients with prescriptions and an option of having a trained nurse administer the same in the convenience of their homes," said Ms Arti Joshi, marketing manager, Medicine Shoppe India, while refusing to divulge any other details.
"The nurse would be provided at no extra cost while the drugs would be available at prices below MRP. The current system makes patients place orders with local hospitals which in turn contact the pharma companies for critical care drugs. These are then sold to the patients at MRP after much delay. The new concept would cut out the waiting period for patients who require critical care drugs," said sources.
Medicine Shoppe, with 88 outlets in India, would be opening such super speciality pharmacy outlets across the country in a phased manner that would distribute drugs that cater to 11 critical diseases and has targeted operating 500 pharmacies in India by 2006 through franchisees.
For the millions suffering from critical diseases in India, this new concept is expected to revolutionise drug delivery in the field of retailed pharmacy, by giving patients more control in the purchase and delivery of critical drugs, say medical experts. "We will also have a home delivery facility for patients with prescriptions and an option of having a trained nurse administer the same in the convenience of their homes," said Ms Arti Joshi, marketing manager, Medicine Shoppe India, while refusing to divulge any other details.
"The nurse would be provided at no extra cost while the drugs would be available at prices below MRP. The current system makes patients place orders with local hospitals which in turn contact the pharma companies for critical care drugs. These are then sold to the patients at MRP after much delay. The new concept would cut out the waiting period for patients who require critical care drugs," said sources.
Medicine Shoppe, with 88 outlets in India, would be opening such super speciality pharmacy outlets across the country in a phased manner that would distribute drugs that cater to 11 critical diseases and has targeted operating 500 pharmacies in India by 2006 through franchisees.