Sehat a venture of Apothecare Pvt Ltd and winner of the Healthcare Startup of the Year at Startup Expo 2016, has been a revolutionizing concept in the local pharmaceutical industry. Powered and run by the Fazal Din family, Sehat has been envisioned and developed as a medium for all Pakistanis to avail their medicines at their doorstep, irrespective of their location.
Launched in April 2014 as Pakistan’s premier online pharmacy, Sehat ensures that consumers have the convenience of getting guaranteed quality medicines directly from the manufacturers, through special arrangement, delivered right to their doorstep, anywhere in Pakistan. All medications, including cold chain items, maintained according to WHO and GMP standards and regulations, are part of Sehat’s pack of services.
Standing over the credibility built by Fazal Din & Sons Pvt. Ltd., Sehat ensures quality and authenticity of medicine, eliminating the risk of spurious and counterfeit drugs being distributed. This is where they establish their dominance over other local players in the market.
With online shopping and cash on delivery courier services gaining traction in the local economy, there had been a growing room for a widely recognized online pharmaceutical retailer to address the consumer needs while providing reliability of product delivered.
This is where Apothecare employed their three main ideals: Service, Customer satisfaction, & Quality assurance; and Sehat came into being. Initially akin to a new channel for sales while keeping an already established base, Sehat soon turned out to be a bigger player reaching out to every segment of medicine industry.
In a short span of two years, it has evolved as an answer to the existing and evolving needs rather than an initiative struggling for recognition in the industry.
It’d be interesting to note here that though the Board and upper management of Apothecare consist of the fourth generation of the Fazal Din family, Apothecare and Fazal Din & Sons Pvt. Ltd. are separate entities.
Providing medicines for a range of chronic conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, allergies, skin diseases, or heart disease, Sehat’s primary clientele is chronic medicine users, i.e., people who need a regular supply of medicines for a recurring or persistent condition.
Though it caters to over the counter drug sales as well, however, as per the data, the chronic medicine users – prescription drug users- account for up to 70% of annual sales.
To acknowledge their core base of clientele, Sehat provides discounted prices, easy payment to chronic medicine users who avail regular supply of medicines via scheduled delivery – another feather in the service’s cap.
Sehat’s operational demographics are an interesting mix of urban and rural areas. From large urban centers with densely concentrated internet access to remotely connected rural areas, Sehat works across a wide spectrum of socioeconomic demographics. Orders may be placed directly online, on the website or at a toll-free helpline 0800-SEHAT (73428). Patients could register, order medicines, and review their account status with Sehat’s trained customer service representatives at the helpline.
Maintaining this convenience of access for its consumer base, on top of its nationwide delivery, Sehat is able to facilitate serving remote locations that have limited or no access to pharmaceutical supplies and sales points.
Keeping the delivery time less than 24 hours for major areas and up to 72 hours for remote locations, the average cart value of individual customer at Sehat is PKR 7,452.55 for prescription orders only. Within Lahore it even provides quick same day delivery.
While the numbers speak for themselves, there are a few other value added services that make Sehat the choicest online pharmacy.
Scheduling Purchasing with Sehat permits customers with prolonged prescriptions to space out their orders in weekly or monthly deliveries as per their convenience; they receive reminder notifications on their next delivery and make payment arrangements before the shipment is sent out.
Cold-Chain Delivery Unlike other medicine delivery services available in the market, Sehat ensures that temperature sensitive medicines are delivered maintained between 2-8 degrees Celcius to any location in Pakistan.
Variety of Payment Options With a range of paying options available, including Credit Card, Internet Banking, Deposit Banking, EasyPaisa, UBL Omni & Cash on Delivery, consumers’ convenience is kept the guiding principle of transactions.
Working in accordance with the drug sales license in Pakistan, it is of core significance for a pharmacy business to keep track of prescription sales with verification and documentation.
Sehat makes it convenient for the customers by having them send their prescriptions by post, MMS, or e-mail. The prescription is also used to keep a track of drug consumption by monitoring the medicine delivery schedules.
To have the convenience of availing authentic, quality medication from a fully functioning and licensed pharmacy at your door stop is not an idea anymore. It is a robust reality, thanks to Sehat!
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