Vending machines to dispense medicines
A Freshippo deliveryman picks up an online order for medicines from a Sinopharm vending machine.
Sinopharm Online Healthcare Co Ltd has joined with Alibaba's on-demand fresh food and grocery platform Freshippo to dispense over-the-counter drugs.
The first batch of Sinopharma's self-service vending machines is now available at Freshippo outlets in Shanghai, and the two companies said they expect to get regulatory approval for machines in Shenzhen soon.
The distribution and selling of medicines is strictly licensed to legitimate distributors and retailers and Sinopharm said it hopes to seek new business models with retailers such as Freshippo. Payment for medicines would go directly to Sinopharma under supervision of the industry watchdog.
Nearly 120 types of over-the-counter drugs are available at the vending machine, covering common symptoms such as headaches, coughing and muscle aches, and customers can also place an order using Freshippo's smartphone app.
Wang Letian, general manager of Sinopharm Online Healthcare Co, said the companies hope to trial new methods that can better satisfy consumer demand when medicine is needed urgently. "The dispatch of over-the-counter drugs has been a challenge for us and Freshippo's business format fits well with Sinopharm's aim to stay closer to customer demand," he said.
Freshippo has also been adding other services beyond fresh food to include home cleaning and laundry services.
