药店老板们睡不着觉了

Core Viewpoint - The introduction of self-service medicine vending machines is raising concerns among traditional pharmacies about competition and regulatory compliance, particularly regarding the sale of prescription drugs [5][12][14]. Group 1: Market Trends and Data - The retail pharmacy sector is experiencing a decline in growth, with physical pharmacies projected to see a decrease of 0.4% from 2023 to 2024, following a drop of 0.9% from 2022 to 2023 [3]. - E-commerce B2C channels, including internet hospitals, are showing growth, with a 26.9% increase in 2022 compared to 2021, and an 18.8% increase in 2023 compared to 2022 [4]. - The self-service vending machines can hold over a thousand types of medications and are designed to meet the 24-hour medication needs of consumers, addressing the "last mile" issue in drug purchasing [5][7]. Group 2: Regulatory Environment - The Beijing regulations specify that self-service machines can only sell Class B non-prescription drugs (OTC), which has led to concerns about the potential for these machines to dispense prescription medications without proper oversight [9][10]. - The National Medical Products Administration has stated that self-service machines are not allowed to sell prescription drugs, emphasizing the need for regulatory compliance in the distribution of medications [13]. Group 3: Industry Concerns - Pharmacy operators are worried that self-service machines could operate without licensed pharmacists, leading to potential safety risks in medication dispensing [15][18]. - The operational costs for traditional pharmacies, including the need for licensed pharmacists, are significantly higher compared to the low overhead of self-service machines, which could create an uneven playing field [20][23]. - The rapid deployment of self-service machines could disrupt the traditional pharmacy model, as they can be set up quickly and at a lower cost compared to opening new physical locations [24][26]. Group 4: Economic Implications - The cost of maintaining a licensed pharmacist in a physical pharmacy can add approximately 20,000 yuan per month, while self-service machines do not incur such costs, leading to competitive disadvantages for traditional pharmacies [20][23]. - The profitability of self-service machines is questioned, as some operators report low revenue compared to the initial investment required for the machines [29][30]. - The potential for self-service machines to take over the market raises concerns about the sustainability of traditional pharmacies, especially in densely populated urban areas where competition is already fierce [34][35].