by Prix D Banzon

Davao City (4 December) -- A delivery service drugstore that provides professional pharmacy services is now in Davao City to serve Dabawenyos through a new concept of drugstore retailing.

Carlo Calma Lorenzana, business development manager of Med Express presented the concept during the Kapehan sa Dabaw held Monday at Cafe Rysus in SM City.

He said the newest concept is just a phone call away where Med Express upon getting the desired medicines delivers the same to customers' home or office.

Med Express, he said has some 100,000 clients in the Philippines and made some P400,000 sales in Metro Manila area alone last year.

The delivery service drugstore was first established in Jakarta, Indonesia.

It expanded to Metro Manila where they operate seven branches, one in Cebu and the latest in Davao City although Lorenzana said they are considering an expansion of two more branches in Jakarta.

He said Davao is a must area to be served by Med Express, No. 1 delivery drugstore in Asia, because it is the third most progressive city in the Philippines

Although they already had put up a structure in Magallanes Street, Lorenzana said they are still finalizing a site in the downtown area where a "drive thru" facility will also be put up for those clients who would want to pick up the medicines.

He said pick up servicing in their outlet could be at most two minutes time.

Also included in the Med Express service is the medication counseling. A licensed pharmacist will serve the client and provide him or her the correct information about their medicines.

"Services would include what the medicine is for, how to take the medicine, what conditions to expect and what to avoid while under medication," he said.

He said they will also monitor if the patient is taking their medication as prescribed by their doctor even as he said that their state of the art system will detect if the patient needs to replenish their maintenance medicine and prompt their pharmacists to call them if they are complying with their regimen.

"This professional pharmacy service is the key to ensure expected patient health outcome," he said.

The Med Express carries a complete line of drugstore products, such as prescription medicines, over the counter medicines, vaccines and even oncology (Cancer) products.

Pediatric products are also being carried such as infant formulas and diapers. Medical supplies such as alcohol, bandages and thermometer and personal care products are also available.