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Community pharmacies under pressure: issues of deregulation and competition

Ruth A. Schmidt (Principal Lecturer in Retail Management at the Business School, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK)
Elke A. Pioch (Senior Lecturer in Retail Management, at the Business School, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK)

International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management

ISSN: 0959-0552

Article publication date: 1 July 2004

2444

Abstract

As providers of emergency medication, expert advice and specialist healthcare services, retail pharmacies are central to their neighbourhoods. Traditionally, recognition of this vital contribution to the community has been reflected in special protective measures at the macro level, making the pharmacy sector one of the most highly regulated within the UK retail industry. However, recent deregulation measures in relation to all aspects of the services marketing mix, namely products, price, place, promotion, physical evidence, people and processes, have made for a dynamic competitive climate with increasing pressures on the livelihood of small‐ to medium‐sized enterprises. Strategies for success are discussed.

Keywords

Citation

Schmidt, R.A. and Pioch, E.A. (2004), "Community pharmacies under pressure: issues of deregulation and competition", International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, Vol. 32 No. 7, pp. 354-357. https://doi.org/10.1108/09590550410541471

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2004, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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