Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the evolution and competition among major Chinese internet platforms (Meituan, JD.com, and Alibaba) in the online healthcare and pharmaceutical retail sector over the past decade, highlighting their strategies, market dynamics, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their business models [1][5][8]. Group 1: Historical Development - In 2015, Meituan launched a "pharmaceutical" module in its food delivery app, marking its entry into the pharmaceutical sector [1]. - Around the same time, JD.com began building its self-operated pharmacy, expanding into the pharmaceutical retail space [2]. - The following year, Alibaba integrated its pharmaceutical business into Alibaba Health, signaling the start of the "Internet + Health" initiative [3]. - Initially, these companies expanded their product categories based on their existing business models, leading to unforeseen competition and convergence in the healthcare sector over the next decade [4][18]. Group 2: Impact of COVID-19 - The COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 acted as a catalyst for rapid changes in the healthcare sector, increasing demand for health-related products and services [21]. - The pandemic heightened consumer demand for timely delivery of health products, prompting platforms to enhance their delivery efficiency [22]. - JD.com quickly expanded its "urgent medicine delivery" service, achieving significant coverage across cities and improving delivery times [24][27]. - Meituan established "Meituan Buy Medicine" as an independent business, signaling its serious commitment to the pharmaceutical retail market [29]. Group 3: Current Market Dynamics - By 2024, Meituan's O2O system had penetrated both urban and rural markets, with over 300 million cumulative users and partnerships with more than 250,000 retail pharmacies [54]. - JD Health adopted a multi-faceted approach with self-operated, B2C, and O2O models, reporting a revenue of 94 billion yuan from platform services in 2024, a nearly 20% increase [59]. - In contrast, Alibaba Health's revenue for the 2024 fiscal year was 270.42 billion yuan, significantly lower than JD Health, indicating a slower growth trajectory [61]. Group 4: Future Trends - The article suggests that the ongoing competition in the pharmaceutical retail sector is a precursor to broader trends in instant retail, with potential for further development in areas like medical testing and aesthetic medicine [79]. - Platforms are increasingly focusing on integrating online medical services with pharmaceutical sales, leveraging the growing demand for home testing and telemedicine [68][69]. - The future of internet health platforms will likely involve a blend of B2C and O2O models, catering to different consumer needs and preferences [66].