Bureau of Research on Industry and Economic Fundamentals (BRIEF) has been involved in conducting a primary survey based study titled “E-Pharmacy – Perception of Consumers”. The aim of the study was to understand consumers’ perspectives towards the novel concept of online pharmacies while encompassing their views and readiness towards adopting this technology fuelled medicine buying mechanism. Basis the survey findings, a report has been drafted which provides analytical insights on the perceptions of consumers/end-users towards online or internet-based merchandise of pharmaceutical products. The report, while indicating the acceptability of e-pharmacy among the consumers, also indicates their perception regarding various factors affecting the e-pharmacy market vis-à-vis existing physical retail outlets. It also aims at providing logical inputs to facilitate viable regulatory reforms to augment the prevalent business model followed by e-pharmacies.
The survey was carried out with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and was administered on a sample of 4600 respondents across the country.