Wuzhen Internet Hospital Launches First Batch of Pharmacy-Based Clinics, Ushering in the 'Pharmacy + Clinic' Era
On April 6, the first batch of over 100 dispensing sites affiliated with Wuzhen Internet Hospital pharmacies was officially launched. This marks the formal upgrade of partner pharmacies into “pharmacy + clinic” models, ushering in the Pharmacy 4.0 era, supported by Wuzhen Internet Hospital’s online medical services and remote consultation platform.
“The Pharmacy + Clinic” Model: Its Dual Significance for the Retail Industry
According to Lu Zigui, Vice President of WeDoctor Group and Head of Pharmaceutical Affairs at Wuzhen Internet Hospital, although only one month has passed since the announcement of the Wuzhen Internet Hospital Pharmacy Cooperation Plan until its implementation, progress has been very rapid. This cooperation plan holds significance for the retail industry in two main aspects.
First, through the implementation of collaborative initiatives, Wuzhen Internet Hospital will extend high-quality online medical resources to pharmacies, transforming them from traditional retail outlets into integrated hubs for appointment scheduling, e-prescribing, diagnostic testing, and remote consultations. This transformation will facilitate access to medical care and medications for residents at the grassroots level, thereby alleviating difficulties in seeking medical attention. Patients requiring referrals, multidisciplinary consultations, or in-person visits can directly access online diagnosis and treatment services through Wuzhen Internet Hospital.
Secondly, the collaboration plan empowers pharmacies to embrace the “Internet+” model and connect with high-quality medical service resources. During the upgrade process, pharmacies can deepen their membership systems, enhance chronic disease management capabilities, expand customer traffic, optimize product categories, and increase sales volume.
Deliver "One-Stop" Closed-Loop Services
As is well known, under the influence of uncertainties in policy, industry, and other areas, the survival pressure on the pharmaceutical retail industry is increasing day by day. It has become urgent for pharmacies to leverage “Internet + Healthcare” to achieve new transformation and upgrading.
“Supplementary medical and health services will be one of the five major development directions for pharmacies in the future, representing a crucial aspect of pharmacy transformation,” said Zhao Biao, President of Yunnan Hongxiang Yixintang Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd. He noted that health management services offered by pharmacies could include remote physical examinations, teleconsultations, and postoperative rehabilitation. If these services are well implemented, pharmacies will have substantial room for growth in the future. Moreover, this area will interact strongly with core pharmaceutical operations, fostering greater customer stickiness. This inevitably means that internet hospitals will play an increasingly significant role in the future development of pharmacies.
In the view of Zhang Fuxiang, Executive President of Gansu Zhongyou Health Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., the Pharmacy 1.0 era was characterized by chain store models, open-shelf displays, and more modern retail management technologies; the Pharmacy 2.0 era saw the development of an affordable pricing model, featuring lower prices and margin support from private-label products; the Pharmacy 3.0 era was a period of diversified exploration, with expanded product categories including daily necessities, personal care items, eyewear, and infant formula; while the Pharmacy 4.0 era represents the integration of the big health industry and the internet age, encompassing pharmaceuticals, medical services, health supplements, health management, healthcare nursing, and other health-related industries.
Song Yanyan, General Manager of Sinopharm Holding (Hubei) Hankou Grand Pharmacy, believes that the consultation points at Wuzhen Internet Hospital pharmacies have overcome the service barrier—diagnosis and treatment—that was anticipated yet unattainable in the Pharmacy 4.0 era. This enables follow-up patients, those requiring basic medical care, and patients with scheduled appointments to enjoy “one-stop” convenient services. For the first time, pharmacy services are formally directed toward patients rather than merely consumers, marking an epoch-making upgrade.
On March 3, Wuzhen Internet Hospital officially launched its platform model following the release of its “Million Consultations Extension Plan.” This initiative integrates electronic prescriptions with pharmacies and links electronic medical records to pharmacy-based chronic disease management services, creating a closed-loop system that spans from clinical consultation to rehabilitation and chronic care. By upgrading traditional healthcare scenarios into an integrated “online + offline” model, each party leverages its respective strengths to deliver high-quality experiences and services to users. Looking ahead, Wuzhen Internet Hospital will collaborate with pharmacies to build comprehensive health and chronic disease management services, exploring new models of operational cooperation.