From a single pharmacy in Thiruvananthapuram to a nationwide public-health network, HLL Lifecare is preparing for its next phase of expansion, with affordable access to medicines at the centre of its retail push.
HLL Lifecare Ltd, a Miniratna central public sector enterprise under the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, plans to expand its pharmacy network to 600 outlets across the country within the next year, PTI reported on September 24 citing statements from company officials.
The expansion is also expected to significantly increase the number of pharmacists working across the network. HLL currently has about 2,000 pharmacists, including 863 women, and the number is projected to rise to around 4,500 as the pharmacy network expands.
HLL began its public-health retail operations with an outlet at the Government Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram on September 26, 2011. Its retail service will complete 15 years of operations on Saturday, coinciding with World Pharmacists Day, the company said.
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The planned expansion is expected to create additional opportunities for pharmacists and other healthcare professionals as HLL builds out its public-health retail presence.
Benny Joseph, director (Technical & Operations), HLL Lifecare, said the company's retail operations were intended to serve a broader public-health purpose rather than simply sell medicines. He said the network was focused on improving the availability and affordability of essential healthcare.
Joseph said the pharmacy that started at the Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram had evolved into a wider public-health retail network. Pharmacists remained central to this expansion because they were often among the healthcare professionals closest to patients seeking medicines and guidance, while also helping ensure that medicines were supplied safely, reliably and affordably.
HLL is expanding its retail footprint through partnerships with central and state government public sector enterprises. These include the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), Coal India Ltd (CIL) and Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL).
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The company is also working with government hospitals, port trust hospitals, medical colleges and other public healthcare institutions to extend its pharmacy services.
The expansion comes as HLL seeks to take its retail public-health model to a larger number of people across India. The company aims to improve access to affordable medicines and healthcare products, including for people living in some of the country's remotest areas.
With the proposed increase in outlets and pharmacists, HLL's retail network is set to become a significantly larger part of its public-health delivery efforts.
The company expects the expansion to combine wider access to medicines with increased employment opportunities for healthcare professionals.
