Medication in small packs and priced at one yuan (US$0.12) have appeared in most of the Nep-star Drugstore outlets in the city since Thursday (Apr. 1).

"The sales volume of the one-yuan medicines was quite good over the past few days, which was actually beyond our expectations," said a staff member with a Nep-star Drugstore surnamed Guo.

The one-yuan medicines cover a dozen varieties. Some cater for families, such as cold pills, cough drops, stomach and intestinal medications and external applications. Although in small packs, the dosage of a one-yuan medicine normally covered three days.

Mainly produced by Nep-star's pharmaceutical suppliers in Guangzhou and Hubei Province, the one-yuan medicines had a lower profit margin because of simple packaging and the cost of advertising spared compared with other medicines, Guo said.

"The promotion of the one-yuan medicines is aimed to satisfy the demands of consumers from different economic backgrounds," said Guo.

A source from Shenzhen Accord Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., a strong competitor of Nep-stars, said its outlets did not sell one-yuan medicines yet but planned to stock them soon.

Since March, the one-yuan medicines have appeared in major cities on the mainland, including Beijing and Guangzhou. Good sales volumes have been reported.

In another development, the municipal bureau of public health has implemented a regulation in which 13 inappropriate activities by medical workers will be punished.

These include dereliction of duty, bad attitudes towards patients, selling hygiene products, medicines and cosmetics to patients, taking money or property from patients, giving unreasonable prescriptions and checkups, practicing favoritism by giving false medical certificates or checkup reports, delaying reporting important cases or holding back reports, and taking or soliciting kickbacks.

Editor: Donald