The large Brazilian pharmacy chains are advancing in the old dream of becoming the so-called health hubs, something more similar to the American and European pharmaceutical retail, with the provision of other types of service, in addition to the traditional sale of medicines.
Raia Drogasil invests in the expansion of vaccination rooms installed in pharmacies. Last year, the network expanded the number of units with the service from 67 to more than 200, spread across 23 states and 75 municipalities.
According to the company, the portfolio includes vaccines against yellow fever, hepatitis, Influenza and others. For this year, the expectation is to triple the number of doses applied, which reached 70 thousand in 2021.
The DPSP Group, which brings together Drogarias Pacheco and São Paulo, says that it surpassed 260 pharmaceutical service rooms last year, which offer blood pressure and blood glucose measurements, in addition to vaccination.
The expectation is to open another hundred rooms in 2022 to accompany the increase in demand for services. In the last year, there were 2.5 million more calls, according to the company, which also has mobile networks focused on companies and condominiums, as well as an online consultation portal.
Abrafarma, an association that brings together large drugstores, says it sees momentum in the movement towards health hubs since the regulation in 2014, which allowed pharmacies to provide services for health care, and by resolution of Anvisa.
Joana Cunha with Andressa Motter and Ana Paula Branco
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