On January 22, the Guiding Opinions on Promoting the High-Quality Development of the Pharmaceutical Retail Industry, jointly issued by the Ministry of Commerce and eight other competent departments, was released, setting forth 18 initiatives across five key areas.
Improve pharmaceutical services
Through a combination of measures—including supporting pharmacies in enhancing their pharmaceutical service capabilities, optimizing the medication purchasing experience, participating in centralized drug procurement, and building a payment guarantee system—pharmacies will be driven to transform from "drug sales terminals" into "hubs for health services".
Innovate health services
The health service function positioning of retail pharmacies will be further strengthened to better meet people’s needs for medical and health services by expanding the health service functions of retail pharmacies, upgrading the health service experience, enriching the formats of pharmaceutical retail, optimizing the experience of commodity and services, and supporting the upgrading of medical and pharmaceutical products.
Strengthen emergency services
The terminal network for drug supply guarantee will be built by bolstering retail pharmacies’ service capacity in emergency supply guarantee and enhancing public support for the emergency supply of pharmaceuticals, thus strengthening drug supply and medication guidance in emergency situations.
Optimize the industrial structure
The industrial concentration, supply chain efficiency will be raised and fair competition in the industry promoted by supporting the merger and reorganization of retail pharmacies, encouraging the integrated development of wholesale and retail sectors, and optimizing the pharmaceutical marketing system.
Regulate the industrial order
Smart supervision will be advanced, market order maintained, and honest operation and healthy development of the industry promoted through measures such as developing smart supervision, fostering fair competition in the industry, and strengthening industry self-discipline.
