Flipkart launches Health+ but faces many obstacles | TechTree.com

Flipkart launches Health+ but faces many obstacles

Flipkart has acquired an online pharmacy and plans to add e-diagnostics and e-consultation over time.

 

Last year Flipkart entered the lucrative but competitive online pharma and health industry but it didn’t quite work out because the company it partnered with was taken over by Tata and then the partnership was dissolved.

But now Flipkart is now making another foray in the healthcare sector with the launch of Flipkart Health+. It has already signed agreements to acquire a majority share in Sastasundar Marketplace Limited which owns and operates SastaSundar.com, an online pharmacy and digital healthcare platform..

"Flipkart Health+ will leverage the combined strengths of the Flipkart Group, which includes its pan-India reach and technology capabilities, with SastaSundar’s deep expertise to provide consumers end-to-end offerings in the health-tech ecosystem," said Flipkart. 

Ravi Iyer, Senior Vice President and Head - Corporate Development, Flipkart, said, “With growing awareness and focus on health heightened by the pandemic, there is a large opportunity and demand for affordable healthcare and ancillary offerings." 

SastaSundar was founded in 2013 by B L Mittal and Ravi Kant Sharma. With its model of personalised application of technology and network of pharmacies, it has made inroads in the competitive market. SastaSundar is backed by investors like Mitsubishi Corporation and Rohto Pharmaceuticals.

Flipkart Health+ must brace itself for strong competition. Amazon is already in the arena and so is India's home-grown titan Reliance that has a tie-up with Netmeds. And let’s not forget about PharmEasy.  

The upside is that the Indian e-health sector has the potential to reach $16 billion 2025, according to a report from RedSeer Consulting. 

But brick and mortar medical shops are fighting back and trying to stall the emergence of e-pharma outlets. The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) are doing everything it can to stop the emergence of e-pharmacies. The association has termed e-pharmacies as illegal. It’s up the government to be the final judge.


TAGS: Flipkart

 
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