Tamil Nadu Chemists and Druggists Association (TNCDA) has launched mobile and web app that would help customers to identify medical shops in their vicinity and place order for their medicines.
The app, named Yoopha, was launched by Croncrew Technologies at the general body meeting of the association in the presence of its patron, K.R. Senthil Vadivu, president, S. Ramachandran, and secretary, K.K. Selvan, here on Sunday.
Stating that over 33,000 members were in the association, Mr. Selvan said most of them were very small pharmacies catering to the rural and remote villagers. The app was aimed at taking on the online sale of medicines, which, he said, was illegal.
“These small pharmacies cannot afford to have digital platform on their own. Hence, this app will serve as a common platform all the pharmacies to face the competition from corporate pharmacies,” he added.
People can place order for medicines at the medical shop of their choice using the app. “Upon receiving the order, a representative will visit the customer at their doorstep and collect the prescription from the doctor and get back with the medicines and then collect the money,” Mr. Selvan said.
This is different from online sales as here doctor’s prescription is mandatory.
Initially, some 1,500 medical shops in and around Chennai would join the new platform that would be extended to all medical shops affiliated to the association across the State, he added.
Yoopha Sales and Marketing Head G. Sivam, and its head operations C. Saravanakumar, were present.
