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

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%.