Pharmaceutical Supermarket Opens in Controversy

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, December 10, 2002

Pharmaceutical Supermarket Opens in Controversy

The Dongfang Kangtai (Oriental Health) Pharmaceutical Supermarket has become a center of debate after opening for business on Sunday in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

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The Dongfang Kangtai (Oriental Health) Pharmaceutical Supermarket has become a center of debate after opening for business on Sunday in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Given the prices of its medicines were about 45 percent cheaper than those sold in hospitals and other drug stores, the supermarket's first-day turnover was around 150,000 yuan (18,072 US dollars).

Du Zhihua, general manager of the supermarket claimed more than 10,000 customers visited the shop on its first business day.

A customer surnamed Wang said it was great to have a place where cheaper medicines were available.

But some either doubted the quality of the medicines or questioned the operational stamina of the supermarket because they thought the prices were far too low.

To eliminate such doubts, the supermarket established by the Xinjiang Tuha Oil Field Company with an investment of 10 million yuan (1.2 million US dollars), has set up its own quality examination system.

Du said they welcomed inspections by local quality supervision departments and would respond to the complaints of any customers.

Zhang Aihua, director of the Urumqi Bidding Committee for Medicine Purchases, said the existence of supermarkets would surely affect the business of hospitals which had to abide by regulatory price controls.

To secure the market, local hospitals planned to improve the quality of their services.

Zhang reminded consumers that supermarkets could not replace hospitals as professional medical advice must always be sought before purchasing medicines.

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