Q: A lot of drug marketing hitchhikes the development express of Internet with the development of it, however, it is ordinary to hear someone suggesting: "Go to hospital or pharmacy if you want to buy drugs." Obviously, those people are concerned about online purchase of drugs. I'd like to ask Mr. Shi, what is the reason for the problem and can it be effectively solved?
Shi Lichen: It is normal that there are frequently the situations of online sales of fake drugs, because there are problems of China's regulation on online sales, meanwhile, toxic or side effects exist for taking certain pharmaceutical products, which requires professionals to guide the medication face to face or to find principals after occurrence of problems.
There is risk in purchase of drugs, especially the prescription drugs, and relevant department of China will not assume this risk, therefore, there will be restrictions in the policy. However, this problem will be relatively easily solved in case of online purchase and getting drug at pharmacy or distribution by pharmacy personnel. And the Opinion Seeking Draft has stated clearly about getting drug at pharmacy or distribution by pharmacy. Therefore, during developing pharmaceutical e-commerce, pharmacy, the core component, shall not be forgotten.
