A Pilot Sale of Class B OTC Drugs in 58 Convenience Stores in Beijing

After more than half a year's trial period of "convenience stores selling drugs" in Beijing, the worries of "high threshold" and "competition with pharmacies" did not appear before. Instead, more relaxed policy support was welcomed on the issues of personnel, area and distance. On September 16, the reporter learned from the Beijing Drug Administration that the requirement for licensed pharmacists will be relaxed in Beijing convenience stores. At the same time, the requirement for distance between adjacent pharmacies and the requirement for classified placement of drugs and medical devices will be exempted. Beijing convenience stores selling drugs in policy can be described as frequent green lights. Business experts believe that this indicates that there will be more room for OTC retail sales in the future, such as 24-hour vending machines and other emerging formats or more, which may further relax restrictions in order to achieve the convenience effect.

58 convenience stores can sell drugs September 16, the reporter learned from the Municipal Pharmaceutical Regulatory Bureau that in view of personnel, area, distance and other concerns of enterprises, provided clear policy support. Among them, the requirements for licensed pharmacists should be relaxed, and the headquarters of chain convenience stores should be equipped with at least one licensed pharmacist, while retail stores should not make separate requirements. In addition, the requirement of distance between adjacent drugstores of convenience stores and the requirement of classified placement of drugs and medical devices should be exempted. At the same time, the policy will also establish a green channel for the enterprises applying for the pilot. The chain stores can be applied for, accepted and handled by the headquarters in a unified way, and provide full-time services by specially assigned persons. They will accept, accept and issue certificates on the same day. The SFDA said it will also set up a working group for field visits. Strengthen supervision. It is understood that various districts in Beijing are also stepping up the implementation of detailed measures to support drug sales in convenience stores, such as the Chaoyang District Market Supervision Bureau planning the layout of drug stores to meet the needs of citizens for medical treatment and drug purchase. Reporters from Beijing Pharmaceutical Regulatory Bureau have learned that up to now, 58 pilot convenience stores, mainly in Wumei, Jingkelong, Quchen and other chain convenience stores, have obtained the qualifications to sell non-prescription drugs such as Banlangen, electronic sphygmomanometer, medical protective masks and other second-class medical devices. Industry. Last October, Beijing began to loosen the drug sales business of convenience stores for the first time. "Several Measures for Further Promoting the Development of Convenience Stores" proposed that chain convenience stores should be allowed to apply for retail operation of Class B OTC drugs according to relevant standards. The policy of consumption inertia cultivation period has been "green light" frequently, but the convenience store drug sales have not been popularized, and consumers have not yet formed a habit. Ms. Yu, who lives in Shijingshan, said that she was not used to buying drugs in convenience stores. She would still try to buy drugs in professional pharmacies, especially when she did not know the efficacy of some drugs very well. She hoped that there would be professionals in the store to guide her purchasing. At the same time, the head of a convenience store chain brand said: "The original intention of carrying drugs is mainly for the convenience of the people. At present, during the pilot business period, there are few consumers who buy drugs." Another convenience store manager revealed: "The average daily sales of drugs in the store is 40-50 yuan." Because convenience stores sell drugs with licensed pharmacists, consumers often do drug consultation. This business is still in its infancy, and it will take time for future consumption habits to develop and trust. Chen Qiaoshan, an analyst at Analysys Medical, pointed out that after the threshold for convenience stores to sell drugs was lowered, the main problem actually fell behind the follow-up supervision. Whether the drugs sold in convenience stores are in compliance with the regulations, whether there is a drug management beyond the scope, whether the drugs are stored properly and whether there are expired drugs, who will manage these problems, who will check them, whether there are regular checks, etc., all need to be clear in place. In response to this, the relevant person in charge of Beijing Pharmaceutical Regulatory Bureau said that next step, the Municipal Pharmaceutical Regulatory Bureau will continue to track the quality and safety of drugs in existing convenience stores, strengthen supervision and inspection, and ensure the quality of drugs. Under the background of decreasing service population density and prolonging profit cycle of traditional pharmacies, we should pay close attention to the operation status of pilot enterprises of convenience stores, constantly adjust and optimize the direction of work, form beneficial complementarity between convenience stores and traditional pharmacies, and let more citizens enjoy the convenience of one-stop purchase of daily necessities and medicines. At the same time, timely summary of pilot work experience, solidify the formation of institutional measures, lay a good foundation for the promotion of the policy in the city.

In fact, convenience stores sell drugs as a convenience measure to provide more channels for citizens to buy drugs. Chen Qiaoshan said that Beijing has further relaxed the restrictions on drug sales services in convenience stores, especially the lower requirements for the allocation of licensed pharmacists, which has greatly increased the operability of drug sales in convenience stores and is a great advantage for convenience stores. Chen Qiaoshan also stressed that although the restrictions on drug sales in convenience stores have been relaxed, it does not mean that there will be a large number of convenience stores flooding into drug sales services at once. Convenience stores need to assess their own supply chain resources. Chain convenience stores such as Suning, 7-11 and Convenience Bees may have a good supply of drugs. Better resources, better bargaining power, but the specific implementation also needs a certain amount of operation time.