Comparative analysis of community pharmacies and retail pharmacy chains: the case of Chile

Luis Felipe Vergara Maldonado, Ines Gabriela Rodriguez Morales, Eduardo Barrueto Mercado, Víctor Manuel Yáñez Jara and Andrés Antonio Rubio Rivera

International Journal of Business Environment, 2025, vol. 16, issue 2, 204-224

Abstract: A strategic analysis of Chile's pharmaceutical industry has revealed strong competitive dynamics, in which three main competitor pharmacy chains have a high concentration, representing about 80% of the sector; pharmacy Ahumada, Cruz Verde y Salcobrand, followed by other pharmacies and mid-range chain pharmacies such as Dr. Simi, Dr. Ahorro, Knop and Galénica. The growth of community or people's pharmacies in the Chilean pharmaceutical market can be observed as a result of the collusion case between the large pharmacy chains Cruz Verde, Ahumada, and Salcobrand, between 2007 and 2008. This research was conducted through a comparison of the Communal Pharmacy of Chillán, Chile, with retail or chain pharmacies. The analysis included a comparison of the Communal Pharmacy and large retail chain pharmacies in terms of competitive advantages. One of the main findings was a significant difference in the prices of drugs sold by the communal pharmacy of Chillán versus chain pharmacies, with some cases observing a difference of up to 400%.

Keywords: pharmaceutical industry; community pharmacies benchmark studies; market; retail chain; drugs; prices; competitive advantages; Chile. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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