JD.com Launches Self-operated B2C Pharmaceutical Channel 'JD Pharmacy'
Ebrun, 5/31/16
Chinese B2C e-commerce platform JD.com (Nasdaq: JD) has launched its self-operated B2C online pharmacy channel, JD Pharmacy. The channel will offer both prescription and over-the-counter medicine. The latter can be purchased directly by users, whereas the former require users to upload a photo of their prescription and personal contact details to place an order, which will then only be completed once a pharmacist has talked to the user over the phone.
In 2014, the China Food and Drug Administration issued a Class A license to JD.com to operate a B2B online third-party pharmaceuticals e-commerce platform.
JD.com’s OTC drugs are dispatched by the company’s indirectly owned subsidiary Qingdao Anjitang Pharmacy, which, in November 2015, obtained a Class C license that allows it to run a self-operated B2C over-the-counter pharmaceuticals e-commerce platform.
JD.com’s prescription drugs are provided by Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding (601607.SH) subsidiary Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Dajiankang Yunshang under its “Yiyao” brand.
Editor’s Note: While JD.com's new B2C online pharmacy channel is handling sales of OTC drugs itself, for prescription drugs it serves simply as a display interface (it has a license to display prescription drugs), with sales of the prescription items handled by Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Dajiankang Yunshang. In August 2015, JD.com’s wholly owned subsidiary Beijing Jingdong Century Trade invested in Dajiankang Yunshang, and, according to a recent press release from Dajiankang Yunshang, as of March 2016, JD.com held an 11.36% stake in the company. For more information on Dajiankang Yunshang, please see Prescription Drugs M-commerce App 'Yi Yao' Wins RMB 135 Mln Series A+, MD 11/05/14 issue.
Keywords: online healthcare e-commerce Internet B2C JD.com JD
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