Diabetic medical store opens

Trust Chemists and Druggists, pharmacy retail chain based out of Bangalore, plans to double its retail presence and set up disease-specific stores in the city.

"Currently we have 16 stores in the city and by year-end want to become 30 store company," said Hemanth Bothra, director, Trust Chemists and Druggists.

In addition to expanding its footprints, the company is also planning disease-specific stores.

"To begin with, the company has come out with a concept of 'Trust Diabetic World'. This store is being positioned as super-speciality diabetic destination, offering complete range of diabetic medicines, medical aids and related requirements under one roof," said Bothra.

The company has opened its first 'Trust Diabetic World' store in Koramangala.

Officailly India has 32 million diabetic patients and the number is increasingly geometrically. the number is expected to double by 2025, said Bothra.

'Trust Diabetic World' store is structured on an interactive platform where in a patient can see audiovisual presentation and buy books on diabetic care and also offers sugar free sweets, ice creams and other eatables, he added.

'Trust Diabetic World' will not only sell diabetic medicines but also take the responsibility of servicing, educating and making the diabetics feel at ease to lead a healthy normal life, said K A Cariappa, senior manager operations, Trust Chemists and Druggists.

On the Trust's USP, Cariappa said the shops are airconditioned.

The shops do not dispense medicines without prescriptions as it is illegal and no substitute products are given and no medicines are sold without a proper invoice.

""For the medical shops, pharmacists are trained on good retail pharmacy practices and about 20,000 SKUs (stock keeping units) are stocked," he added.