US pharmacy chain Medicine Shoppe has opened its first drug store in southwest China's Chongqing municipality.

 

Differing from a traditional pharmacy, Medicine Shoppe provides a professional medicine information service. Physicians will be available around the clock for client services and will keep records of clients' disease history by computer, Chongqing Daily reports.

 

Medicine Shoppe also plans to launch another five stores in central areas of Chongqing this year, and the store number will extend to 50 in the coming two years.

 

The US pharmacy giant, which has cooperated with a local pharmacy, promises that it will not join the local price war in Chongqing.

 

Established in 1970, Medicine Shoppe is the No. 1 brand on medicine retail, with an annual sales volume of two billion US dollars, and more than 1,500 stores around the world.

 

It has already opened more than 70 stores in the Chinese cities of Shenzhen and Shanghai.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2006)