'Attack' automatic drug vending machine: the market has not yet entered the blowout period, and the policy still needs to be further improved

In 2002, automatic drug vending machines were introduced across the country. After years of 'tepid' development, how long is there still to go? Recently, Ningbo Yuyao City Market Supervision Administration issued the first 'Drug Business License' in the country to confirm the operation of automatic drug vending machines by means of administrative licensing. With the issuance of the license, the first 24-hour automatic drug vending machine in Ningbo was officially put into use. Prior to this, Suzhou, Guiyang, Zhengzhou and other cities have issued relevant regulations, allowing qualified pharmaceutical retail companies to set up automatic drug vending machines to sell non-prescription drugs, and the penetration rate of automatic drug vending machines is expected to increase. However, Yang Daqing, a special researcher of the China Society of Logistics, believes that the current national automatic drug vending machine is still facing a 'limited incremental' market, which has not yet entered the blowout period. At this stage, it is in a 'limited incremental' market. In recent years, the development of automatic drug vending machines across the country may have borrowed the 'dongfeng' of policies. The 'Measures for the Administration of Drug Business Licenses' promulgated in 2004 clearly stipulates that drug retail enterprises must have the ability to provide drugs that meet the needs of local consumers and ensure 24-hour supply. At that time, the automatic medicine vending machine had not yet found its place in the circulation of medicine. However, the 'Retail Pharmacy Operation Service Specification' implemented since December 1, 2012 shows that retail pharmacies are encouraged to set up night service windows to achieve 24-hour drug supply to meet the needs of consumers. Since then, the 24-hour drug sales service in pharmacies has changed from 'mandatory restraint' to 'advocacy', and automatic drug vending machines have gradually become one of the solutions to the pain points of drug sales at night. It is worth noting that automatic medicine vending machines are also on the cusp of 'new retail', and Internet giants such as Ali and JD.com have joined in the layout. JD.com expanded its 'unmanned series' to the field of pharmaceutical retail and launched unmanned smart medicine cabinets. In addition, traditional pharmaceutical companies also regard automatic drug vending machines as the 'standard equipment' for the transformation of their retail business. Taking Kangmei Pharmaceutical (600518, SH) as an example, it announced in July 2018 that the company plans to invest 2.8 billion yuan in 50,000 'smart medicine cabinets' as terminal extension service entities of smart pharmacies, with an investment of 7.7 billion yuan 15 urban pharmacies of smart pharmacies, 48 ​​central pharmacies and 5 satellite pharmacies have been built nationwide. Yang Daqing analyzed to the reporter of 'Daily Economic News' that automatic drug vending machines are an inevitable product of the transformation of the drug circulation service system in the digital economy environment. Volume' market has not yet reached the blowout period'. Investigating the reason, Yang Daqing said that medicines are different from high-frequency consumer goods such as food and drinks, and are special commodities. At present, automatic medicine vending machines only allow the sale of non-prescription medicines, which account for about 15% of the overall pharmaceutical market. In addition, Yang Daqing believes that most of the online payment systems for automatic drug vending machines have not yet been connected with the medical insurance system, which affects consumers' enthusiasm for using automatic drug vending machines. Moreover, the use of some over-the-counter drugs still needs the guidance of professional doctors. Before the application of medical artificial intelligence technology, the promotion of automatic drug vending machines is still limited. Relevant policies still need to be further improved. In fact, the current automatic drug vending machines mainly focus on the slogan of 'drug distribution last one kilometer', but Yang Daqing believes that its commercial value is more than that. 'If the automatic drug vending machines at this stage only focus on solving the Drug distribution last one kilometer', then it may be panning for gold in 'false demand'.' Yang Daqing said that automatic drug vending machines still face greater competition in the field of medical distribution. The logistics and distribution platform is in the ascendant, and although the automatic drug vending machine has landed, it should not be overly respected and needs to be carefully deployed.” Yang Daqing further stated that the automatic drug vending machine is one of the application ports of artificial intelligence technology in the smart medical market, or it may be applied to smart hospitals to improve smart medical care or even telemedicine services; interaction port. 'If the layout is carried out in isolation, the automatic drug vending machine may become an isolated island in the drug supply chain.' In addition, the reporter of 'Daily Economic News' noticed that in recent years, many cities have introduced relevant policies for drug retail, automatically The penetration rate of drug vending machines is expected to increase. In June of this year, Ningbo Market Supervision Bureau and Ningbo Human Resources and Social Security Bureau jointly issued the 'Opinions on Supporting and Encouraging the Development of Innovation in Pharmaceutical Retail Chains', encouraging pharmaceutical retail chain enterprises to set up 24-hour automatic drug vending machines in stores and adopt the 'Internet +Drug circulation + medical insurance mobile payment' model, and carried out the pilot work of selling medical insurance non-prescription drugs with automatic drug vending machines in chain stores. Prior to this, Suzhou, Guiyang, Zhengzhou and other cities have issued relevant regulations, allowing pharmaceutical retailers with relevant qualifications to set up automatic drug vending machines to sell non-prescription drugs. Among them, in 2017, the Quanzhou Food and Drug Administration issued the 'Notice on Doing a Good Job in Setting Up Automatic Drug Vending Machines for Drug Retail Chain Enterprises', and it has been put into use in pharmacies, supermarkets, banks, and surrounding communities in the downtown area of ​​Quanzhou Vending machine. However, as of now, the attitudes and regulatory policies of vending machines in various places are still inconsistent. In this regard, economist Song Qinghui believes that as a new type of drug business model, automatic drug vending machines need to improve relevant policies in terms of approval, retail qualifications, and supervision, otherwise there may be unapproved drug sales in the future, drug expiration, False medicines and other chaos appear, which is not conducive to the physical and mental health of citizens.
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