E-pharmacies look at bulk vaccine deals

Online pharmacies are rushing to sign up companies, residential complexes , old-age homes and clinics as vaccinations open up for the private sector, seen as a $1.4 billion opportunity for private healthcare services providers this fiscal year.

The e-pharmacies are in talks with manufacturers to secure the vaccine, and plan to use Bharat Biotech International’s Covaxin, Serum Institute of India’s Covishield, and Dr Reddy’s imported Sputnik-V.

“We have signed up more than 600 corporates as partners. We are going ahead and signing up apartment complexes and societies as well and we are preparing for three types of vaccination systems,” said Prashant Tandon, founder and chief executive officer of 1mg, an online pharmacy.