Q-commerce is here to stay, retailers must upgrade themselves’, says CEO of Retailers Association of India

Q-commerce is here to stay, retailers must upgrade themselves’, says CEO of Retailers Association of India

On September 26, Madras High Court lawyer K Narasimhan alleged in his complaint to the DPIIT that e-commerce platform Flipkart is offering discounts at product level for select sellers and creating a non-competitive environment.

By  IMRAN FAZAL| Sep 27, 2024 8:44 AM

‘Q-commerce is here to stay, retailers must upgrade themselves’, says CEO of Retailers Association of India

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has referred a complaint against quick commerce companies to the CCI for further investigation.

Multiple retail trade associations and federations have written to the Indian government, expressing concerns that the growth of Q-commerce platforms is hurting their retail businesses. The Retailers Association of India (RAI) believes that instead of complaining about the rise of Q-commerce and e-commerce platforms, retailers should focus on upgrading themselves.

It's worth noting that several FMCG companies have reported strong double-digit growth in online sales through quick-commerce. According to a RedSeer report, the Q-commerce market is expected to reach $5.5 billion by 2025. The contribution of quick-commerce platforms to the online grocery market is projected to increase from 10% to 45% in the coming years. In 2023, the gross merchandise value (GMV) of quick commerce in India reached $2.3 billion, showing a growth of over 70% compared to the previous year.

RELATED STORIES

‘Q-commerce is here to stay, retailers must upgrade themselves’, says CEO of Retailers Association of India

On the sidelines of the Retail Technology Conclave, ReTechCon 2024, Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO of the Retailers Association of India (RAI), spoke to Storyboard18 about the ongoing Q-commerce vs. Retailers conflict, which has now reached the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

Addressing the allegations of unfair trade practices by Q-commerce and e-commerce platforms, Rajagopalan stated, “When it comes to unfair trade practices and allegations by retailers, we need to wait and see. The government has a mechanism to address such issues.”

Rajagopalan added, “As far as Q-commerce platforms are concerned, they are here to stay because customers are getting something they've always wanted. At RAI, we believe in creating a level playing field for all retailers, and the Indian government has already launched the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), which will likely incorporate hyper-local and fast-commerce capabilities.”

He went on to say, “We are waiting for ONDC to improve further, and RAI is actively working with them. I believe that when your trusted local retailer can provide the product you want, whether online or offline, at the desired speed, small retailers will naturally thrive.”

Rajagopalan emphasized, “Our goal is to help small retailers improve their operations. As the Retailers Association, we don’t believe in halting new or innovative businesses, but we aim to ensure everyone has a level playing field.”

Recently, All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation (AICPDF), which claims to represent about 800,000 entities, expressed concerns over the rapid expansion of quick commerce platforms. They allege that these platforms create an uneven playing field, negatively impacting small retailers.

The AICPDF submitted a complaint to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, raising concerns about anti-competitive practices by quick commerce companies and calling for an investigation.

When asked about RAI's stance on this issue, Rajagopalan said, “The debate over whether retailers should be available both online and offline is now irrelevant. Customers are shopping both ways. Any retailer worth their salt must be available online and offline, which is why I support ONDC. You can’t do anything that goes against customer interests—it will backfire.”

He added, “The key is to enable everyone to do business for the customer. However, if someone is engaging in deep discounting or loss leadership practices that are anti-competitive, these should be addressed, and it’s the government’s responsibility to ensure such practices are stopped.”

“At RAI, we always emphasize a level playing field. No one should take undue advantage of the situation with unfair trade practices. At the same time, businesses should not expect things to be the same as they were a decade ago—COVID has changed all of us as consumers. Retailers must adopt new methods to upgrade themselves.”

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has referred a complaint against quick commerce companies to the CCI for further investigation.

Moreover, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has urged the government to suspend the 'festival sales' events of Amazon and Flipkart, as they will further harm domestic traders through the continued use of anti-competitive practices.

On September 26, Madras High Court lawyer K Narasimhan alleged in his complaint to the DPIIT that e-commerce platform Flipkart is offering discounts at product level for select sellers and creating a non-competitive environment. The letter was sent to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade Secretary Amardeep Singh Bhalla.

Technical skills that are important for pharmacists

Technical skills that are important for pharmacists

Proficiency in pharmacy software and technology, such as electronic health records (EHRs), medication dispensing systems, and prescription processing software.

Knowledge of compounding techniques and sterile preparations, including aseptic technique and cleanroom procedures.

Familiarity with drug utilization review (DUR) software and medication therapy management (MTM) platforms for evaluating medication orders and optimizing drug therapy.

Understanding of drug classification systems, drug identification, and drug utilization evaluation.

Ability to operate and maintain pharmacy equipment, such as automated dispensing machines, medication packaging systems, and drug delivery devices.

https://chat.whatsapp.com/Iili8jkCHeYJYi3x89OPuF

Pharmacists Job Description Examples

Pharmacists Job Description Examples 

·  Receiving indents.

·  Dispatching medicine to inpatient.

·  Attending out patient.

·  Receiving Medicine from the supplier.

·  Arranging medicine according to their storage condition.

·  Making Purchase order (P.O.) & prepare GRN for the same.

·  Purchase return of medicine due to their expiry date.

·  Handling narcotic & keep record of it.

·  Arranging non-available medicine from near by chemist.

·  Hand over cash to cashier.

Pharmacist registration is must.

https://chat.whatsapp.com/Iili8jkCHeYJYi3x89OPuF

Pharmacy education in India

Pharmacy education in India

In India, pharmacy education today is looked upon as a business opportunity by many. There is a severe shortage of qualified and competent faculty in the pharmacy colleges in the country. Also, there is a mismatch between knowledge and skills received by pharmacy graduates and the job requirements. Non-uniformity in the distribution of pharmacy colleges in the country is causing regional imbalances and inter-state migration of students. To add to the trouble, the pharmacy colleges in the rural and remote areas are not so popular. Apart, students graduated from several pharmacy colleges in the country are unable to work in a team and lacks inter disciplinary knowledge, enough practical orientation and oral and written skills.

There is a dual control of Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to lead the pharmacy education in the country.

The social status of pharmacists lacks the level of respect that it should receive. This is basically due to disharmony in pharmacy education, which practically degrades their professional value.

Usually, registration of pharmacists in developed countries is done after the graduation in pharmacy. But in India, D.Pharm is the basic qualification for registration as a pharmacist. The standard of education and training for D.Pharm is also poor in the country. Hence, the profession has lost its image.

A re-orientation in the approach and outlook of pharmacy education is required to propel the sector. Pharmacy education in the country lays more emphasis on industrial pharmacy than pharmacy practices. Today the subjects like professional pharmacy, community pharmacy and clinical pharmacy are gaining more ground. Globally pharmacy education is more clinical in orientation, while in India it is having an industrial orientation. Harmonization of pharmacy education should take place at entry level, course duration, course contents and depth of knowledge, training, curriculum, internship and registration qualification. The pharmacists today are not able to take the challenges due to advent of new technologies of drug inventions and manufacturing. Qualitative changes in this direction are needed.

In India, educational process is no longer a nation building exercise but a commercial activity for profit making. Every educational institution is trying to create a corporate image with huge extravaganza and not concentrating on the basic inputs of quality in teaching and practical orientation to students. However, there is a clamour for acquiring international image by collaborating with national and international level institutions.

Future perspectives

A pharmacy college should be an autonomous body in respect of academics evaluation, administration, finances, staff recruitment etc. However, the degree shall be awarded by the University with which it is associated for the first ten years, after which it shall be the privilege of the college to award the degree.

The management committee of the college shall include parents, faculty, students, alumni, people of pharma business and industry.

The curriculum should be a well designed and integrated one blended with vocational subjects meeting the requirements of the pharma environs of today. Internal evaluation should be given preference to 75% and all pharmacy colleges shall function on semester system. The pharmacy colleges should involve alumni for financial support for developmental purposes.

Every pharmacy college should have in-house human resource development programme on a continuing basis. The colleges will have appropriate quality assurance mechanism, grievance redressed and monitoring mechanisms etc. participatory management based on inclusion, collaboration and sharing should be there. In every pharmacy college, there should be a comprehensive scheme of student support services inclusive of counselling, personal well-being, placement, follow-up etc.

In future, drug treatment will be individual specific and tailored to individual's need through specific diagnostics. However, in spite of many lacunae in pharmacy education system tremendous development in the field of new drug discovery and research activities has taken place. In the coming years, pharmaceutical sciences should integrate it with upcoming fields like biotechnology, nanotechnology, proteomics and clinical epidemology.

Pharmacy teachers have to regulate themselves, update their knowledge deliver excellence and inspire students by adapting in moral values and time management.

(The author is principal of Veerayatan Institute of Pharmacy, Mandvi Dean Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, K.S.K.V. Kachchh University, Bhuj - Kutch, Gujarat)

https://chat.whatsapp.com/Iili8jkCHeYJYi3x89OPuF

A pharmacist should be exposed to such aspects in the academics that he can be in any one of the following professional categories of jobs:

A pharmacist should be exposed to such aspects in the academics that he can be in any one of the following professional categories of jobs:

a. Chemist and druggist engaged in selling of medicines.

b. Manager and administrator of pharmaceuticals services working for various regulatory authorities and pharmaceutical systems.

c. Academicians (teachers of pharmacy)

d. Specialist in research and development i.e., research of new drug molecules, biotechnological investigations etc.

e. Community and hospital pharmacists with specialized knowledge in drug usage, side effects, contra indications, incompatibilities, storage conditions of drugs, dosage regimen etc.

f. Occupational specialist (industrial pharmacist engaged in pharmaceutical technology) i.e., manufacture of various dosage forms, analysis and quality control, clinical trials, post marketing surveillance, patent applications, drug registrations.

Special emphasis should be given while designing the pharmacy curriculum to include the general aspects of communication skills, which go a long way in helping the pharmacy graduates to face the job world with confidence. Some of the attributes that a pharmacist needs to develop are: analytical capabilities, decision making including problem solving, graphical, computer skills, management skills, aptitude for life long learning, ability to master knowledge from inter-disciplinary subjects and integrative skills.

The pharmacy curriculum should be designed to give more emphasis to patient care. More topics of relevance should be included in the subjects of anatomy & physiology, biochemistry, clinical pharmacology, clinical data analysis, pathophysiology, drug information, interactions and social pharmacy.

Sufficient changes should be brought in the healthcare system of the country. Each state should create a separate pharmaceutical directorate, which can appoint a graduate pharmacist at each primary health centre and government hospital.

The present pharmacy curriculum has produced half a million qualified pharmacists but not many are trained professionals.

There should be constructive linkage between academia, pharmacy practitioners and community in generating useable information based on the rapid technological and professional changes taking place in the society.

https://chat.whatsapp.com/Iili8jkCHeYJYi3x89OPuF

What is the difference between Pharmacy, Pharmacist and Chemist/Druggist?

What is the difference between Pharmacy, Pharmacist and Chemist/Druggist?

https://chat.whatsapp.com/Iili8jkCHeYJYi3x89OPuF

Chemist, druggist, Drug Store, Pharmacy and pharmacist are common words in Indian Pharmaceutical sector. Most of persons who are not used to these word, feel confused. Here we are going to describe the main difference between these terminology. Which retail shop could mention or use which word from above mentioned words.  

The description “Drugstore” shall be displayed by such licensees who do not require the services of a qualified person.

The description “Chemists and Druggists” shall be displayed by such licensees who employ the services of a Registered Pharmacist but who do not maintain a “Pharmacy” for compounding against prescriptions.

The description “Pharmacy”, “Pharmacist”, “Dispensing Chemist” or “Pharmaceutical Chemist” shall be displayed by such licensees who employ the services of a Registered Pharmacist and maintain a “Pharmacy” for compounding against prescriptions.

For the purpose of the rule under drug and cosmetic act the term ‘Pharmacy’ shall be held to mean to include every store or shop or other place :

Where drugs are dispensed, that is, measured or weighed or made up and supplied ; or

Where prescriptions are compounded; or

Where drugs are prepared; or

Which has upon it or displayed within it, or affixed to or used in connection with it, a sign bearing the word or words “Pharmacy”, “Pharmacist”, “Dispensing Chemist” or “Pharmaceutical Chemist”; or

Which, by sign, symbol or indication within or upon it gives the impression that the operations mentioned at (1), (2) and (3) are carried out in the premises; or

which is advertised in terms referred to in (4) above.

According to Pharmacy Practice Regulation Act, 2015, A Registered Pharmacist is:

“Registered Pharmacist” means a person whose name is for the time being entered in the register of the State in which he is for the time being residing or carrying on his profession or business of pharmacy under the Pharmacy Act, 1948.

Now Come to the Difference

What is the difference between Pharmacy, Pharmacist and Chemist/Druggist?

As per above definitions of using a particular word, we can differentiate between Pharmacy, Pharmacist and Chemist/Druggist.

1. Pharmacy is a medicine retail shop which is carrying out activities like compounding and preparation of dosage form and/or medicines along with Dispensing against Medical prescription of Registered Medical Practitioner

where as Chemist/Druggist is a retail medical shop which is involved only in dispensing medicines (Not compounding) against prescription of Registered Medical Practitioner only.

2. Both Pharmacy and Druggist/Chemist are medical retail shops who deals in medicine’s retail business whereas a Pharmacist is a person under whose supervision and direction all activities of a Pharmacy or Druggist/Chemist can be carried out.

Hope above information is helpful to you…

https://chat.whatsapp.com/Iili8jkCHeYJYi3x89OPuF

POV: For any query and suggestion, mail us at pharmafranchiseehelp@gmail.com

What is Pharmacy Compounding?What is Dispensing? What is Patient Counseling?What is Pharmaceutical Care?

What is Pharmacy Compounding?

ayurvedic franchise company, ayurvedic manufacturing company, ayurvedic company

Compounding is the the preparation, mixing, assembling, packing or labeling of a drug or device against prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner for catering special need of a patient in Pharmacy by a Registered Pharmacist or/and for the purpose of research, manufacturing, teaching, clinical trial or chemical analysis including drug analysis and not for sale or dispensing.

What is Dispensing?

Dispensing is the interpretation, evaluation, supply and implementation of a prescription, drug order, including the preparation and delivery of a drug or device to a patient or patient’s caretaker in a suitable container appropriately labeled for subsequent administration to, or use by, a patient by a Registered Pharmacist against prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner.

What is Patient Counseling?

Patient counseling is the oral communication by the pharmacist of information to the patient or caregiver, in order to ensure proper use of drugs and devices.

What is Pharmaceutical Care?

Pharmaceutical care is the provision of drug therapy and other patient care services intended to achieve outcomes related to the care or prevention of a disease, elimination or reduction of a patient’s symptoms, or arresting or slowing of a disease process, as defined by the Pharmacy Council of India.