The Hindu Business Line : Pharmacies target malls, high streets

Hyderabad, July 8 You must have heard of people suffering with pain in the neck or in the abdomen, yet don’t care to go to a doctor. They carry on, taking a pill or two OTC (over the counter) at medical stores.

Recognising this problem, some pharmacy chains have started evolving plans to offer the services at the locations convenient to the people to turn up.

With the Rs 30,000-crore pharma retailing becoming more and more organised in India, the players are now looking at newer formats to attract more people to their stores.

“People are scared at the very prospect of taking appointments one day or two days (weeks in some cases) in advance, and then wait in the long queues. So they either postpone their visits to the doctors or depend on the medical stores for quick fixes,” Ms Shivani Kanneganti, Chief Operating Officer of Goodlife, promoted by Global Hospitals chain, told Business Line.

Goodlife, which runs five regular pharmacies in the twin cities, provides health check-ups, diagnostic services, dental care and medical counselling, besides selling pharma and wellness products.

“We offer the patients the first line of defence. They can see a physician without an appointment. They will be referred to a specialist only if it is warranted,” she said.

Vogue in the West, the convenience clinics houses a general physician and dentists.

Tie-up with Future Group

Goodlife is in advanced stage of talks with the retail major Future group. “We are planning to locate these convenience clinics at the malls or in the high streets,” Ms Shivani said.

With Global Hospitals planning to enter all major cities, Goodlife sees a strong backing as it goes to those cities. The company is proposing to set up 30 such clinics in the next 12 months.

Another city-based pharmacy chain, MedPlus has already rolled out similar clinics.

Mindset problem

It, however, is not an easy task, Dr Surendra Mantena, COO, of MedPlus Path Labs, felt. “We agree that in the current scenario, people have a tendency to seek out a specialist rather than a generalist as they have a wrong perception that a specialist is better than a generalist for treating any ailment,” he said.

“We believe that our conveniently located MedPlus Clinics can change this mentality, but it will take time and education,” he pointed out.

MedPlus, which operates 15 such integrated clinics, is expecting to open at least 50 such clinics by March 2009.

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