Company Watch

MedPlus to expand reach

Usha Sharma - Mumbai

The Hyderabad-based two year old pharma-retail chain, MedPlus Health Services, is expanding its footprint across India and intends to have a pan-India presence by end of 2009. Within a short time since the company had formed, it already had captured a 30 percent share of the organised pharma retail market and serves over 30,000 consumers every day.

Apu Gupta, Chief Operating Officer, said, "We are aiming to make our company the first call for routine healthcare. With nearly 500 pharmacy outlets, we are already present in six states - Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Gujarat. In the next two-three months, we will be extending our services to cater to the people in Kerala and West Bengal. Overall, we have plans to set up 1000 retail pharmacy outlets across India by March 2009, out of that at least 50 will be MedPlus Clinics and the remaining 950 will be stand alone pharmacy outlets. Currently, we have over 15 Integrated Health Centres at Hyderabad and in the next two-three months, we will be adding 10 more centres at Hyderabad itself."

Additionally, MedPlus will also expand its diagnostic lab collection services by equipping more of its pharmacies with collection centres while also increasing its home sample collection staff. In doing so, MedPlus believes it will have the largest retail lab footprint in the country by March 2009.

In addition to stand alone pharmacies, MedPlus offers the integrated health centre 'MedPlus Clinic' which includes a family clinic, diagnostic lab and pharm acy, to provide quality primary healthcare to its customers under one roof. To support the MedPlus Clinics, MedPlus has built a network of 50 practicing physicians who will provide consultation services at the integrated health centre. Each centre provides the benefit of more than three doctors which include general practitioner, gynaecologist and paediatrician and hence wider options for consumers.

Recently, MedPlus launched five regional diagnostic labs in Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Vijaywada, and Vizag. These labs are equipped with state of the art technology and incorporate the latest diagnostic techniques enabling the centre to cater to the biochemistry, clinical pathology, tissue culture and microbiology requirements of clinicians. Their ultra complex 'Clinical Reference Lab' is equipped with the latest instruments to test for over 95 percent of all lab tests ordered by clinicians. The lab houses pathologists, scientists and experienced technicians who ensure that each sample is optimally processed and results are accurately and timely reported.

Core to the MedPlus mission is its desire to eradicate fake medicines and their devastating effects on consumers. MedPlus believes that organised retailers play a critical function in preventing spurious medicines reaching consumers. To aid in this process, MedPlus sells branded pharmaceuticals from the most reputable manufacturers, maintains temperature controlled stores to ensure the quality of medicines remain intact, uses state of the art IT systems and logistics processes to ensure consumers are not exposed to expired medicines, and employs trained and accredited pharmacists. To further its mission, MedPlus also believes that quality medicines should be available easily. To this end, MedPlus offers home delivery services and collection of samples via a national dialup number: 1800. In addition to this, MedPlus leverages its purchasing power with distributors to negotiate for lower prices of medicines for consumers.

It has affiliations with leading pharma companies such as Novartis, Roche, and Johnson & Johnson to conduct educational programmes such as diabetes care and osteoporosis prevention. Commenting on future tie up plans, Gupta, said, "Our franchise is available for interested and determined persons who share our commitment to quality, convenience, and low prices. Also, we are constantly seeking opportunities for partnerships which would aid in bringing quality healthcare to our customers."

u.sharma@expressindia.com