Yunnan province's first retail drugstore association opened with a meeting recently, in Kunming. The association was launched by 12 drug companies, including Yunnan Kangmeijia Pharmaceutical and the Yunnan Longma Pharmaceutical.

More than 100 people, including officials from the provincial commerce dep't, civil affairs dep't, medical benefits fund, and food and drug administration, the Kunming National Hi-Tech Industries Development Zone’s investment promotion bureau, and representatives of 39 member companies across the province taking part.

Delegates voted in the president of Yunnan Kangmeijia, Zhang Shujie, as chairman of the association, with Zhang saying that it would help all drug companies in the province in joint development, more innovative business, and brand building. The purpose of the association is to provide drug information and standardize operations and services of retail drugstore, and to act as a go-between for government and drug companies so they will have the government's ear on urgent problems and to promote inter-store cooperation through drug information sharing for integrated resources.

The association is also expected to provide technical training for druggists, promote the licensing of pharmacists and long-distance electronic reviews, and information on management to member companies. It will also promote online–to-offline e-commerce and build an e-commerce platform for members for greater interaction.