Large chains accelerate the layout of "dual-channel" pharmacies

86 new drugs are included in the "dual channel", which is good for pharmacies

On February 18, the Hunan Provincial Medical Insurance Bureau issued a public announcement, announcing that 86 new drugs in Hunan this year were included in the "dual-channel" single-line payment management

The newly added 86 drugs involve a total of 161 manufacturers, including local pharmaceutical companies such as Qilu Pharmaceutical, Jiangsu Hansoh, Sichuan Kelun, Chia Tai Tianqing and Yangzijiang Pharmaceutical, as well as multinational companies such as Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Merck, and Roche.

Among various commonly used dosage forms such as tablets, capsules and injections, the number of newly-added tablets reached 27, followed by injections with 25

This "dual-channel" single-line payment management has expanded the range of varieties, which is not only convenient for patients, but also beneficial to pharmacies

The implementation of single-line payment makes it unnecessary for patients to be hospitalized for reimbursement, and medical resources are allocated more reasonably; the opening of "dual channels" greatly improves the convenience of patients to purchase medicines, and at the same time promotes the flow of prescriptions to pharmacies

In addition, the "dual channel" may also bring new partners for pharmacies

In general, the expanded scope of "dual-channel" single-line payment management provides more new opportunities for pharmacies

Chains have laid out "dual channels"

In order to seize new opportunities, major domestic chains have been gearing up for the last year, and have accelerated the deployment of "dual-channel" pharmacies

At the end of last month, Dashenlin announced that the company will add 115 new stores in 2021 to obtain dual-channel overall planning qualifications, covering 7 provinces and 31 prefecture-level cities

At present, there are more than 900 hospital-side pharmacies in Dashenlin, of which 504 pharmacies are qualified for dual-channel medical insurance financing for various diseases (covering serious diseases, special diseases, and chronic diseases), and there are 120 DTP specialty pharmacies

The common people also announced last month that as of January 21, 2022, a total of 119 stores of the common people pharmacy nationwide have obtained the qualification of dual-channel overall planning, covering a total of 11 provinces including Hunan, Guangxi, Zhejiang, Henan, Shandong, 1 municipality, 47 a prefecture-level city

At the beginning of 2016, the People's Pharmacy established the "New Special Drug Business Department".

Higher requirements for licensed pharmacists

In addition to requiring pharmacies to strengthen the construction of hardware facilities such as Internet medical services, cold chain management systems, and their own logistics and distribution, "dual-channel" also has greater demand and higher requirements for "people"

For example, as of December last year, more than 20 new special drug service centers in Dashenlin have passed the certification of the "Specifications for the Operation of Drugs for Special Diseases in Retail Pharmacies" by the China Pharmaceutical Business Association.

On the other hand, the People's Pharmacy has also independently developed a new special medicine pharmaceutical service information system, and set up 400 special medicine and severe tumor pharmaceutical service lines.

Only when the hardware system and professionals cooperate, can we rely on the pharmacy service system to provide professional services such as patient filing, disease course tracking, and health education, and gain new competitive advantages in the pharmaceutical retail industry where price dividends are gradually losing

"Dual-channel" pharmacy application requirements

Each province has its own requirements for "dual-channel" pharmacies.
Taking Jiangshan, Zhejiang, which just released the application conditions three days ago (February 16), as an example, the city plans to have two pharmacies this year to open "dual-channel" drug co-payment, meeting the following conditions Designated retail pharmacies can apply voluntarily (each pharmaceutical chain company can only apply for one store), and the specific conditions are as follows:

1.
No fraudulent fraud or insurance violations are found within one year;

2.
The credit rating of the drug regulatory department in the previous year was rated as "green";

3.
Have a stable "dual-channel" drug procurement channel, which can meet the needs of patients for drug purchase;

4.
It has cold chain equipment that meets the national GSP requirements for cold chain drug management and has passed relevant verification work, and is equipped with special emergency power supply and real-time temperature and humidity monitoring equipment;

5.
Electronic traceability has been achieved for the "dual-channel" drugs sold;

6.
Equipped with a certain variety and quantity of "dual-channel" drugs;

7.
Not less than two licensed pharmacists with good professional pharmacy service capabilities;

8.
There is a complete "dual-channel" drug purchase, sales and storage management system, patient real-name management system and patient medication filing system
.

At present, there are certain challenges for small and medium-sized chains to share the "dual-channel" cake, but large chains should deploy more actively and seize the market in advance.
"Pharmacies will also become the main battlefield outside the hospital for prescription drugs
.