Reliance Retail's Netmeds went offline with first Chennai pharmacy store: resurfacing a January 2023 move

Reliance Retail opened a Netmeds pharmacy store in Chennai back in January 2023, extending its digital pharmacy brand into physical retail and signalling an omnichannel push in healthcare.

— Filed Fri, 21 Aug, 2026, 11:50 IST · First seen Fri, 21 Aug, 2026, 11:49 IST · Source Inc42 · Quick Commerce

What happened

Reliance Retail entered offline pharmaceutical retail by opening a Netmeds store in Chennai, extending the online pharmacy brand into physical retail.

Why this matters

Reliance’s move makes Netmeds a stronger platform for healthcare partnerships or acquisitions spanning diagnostics, clinics, insurance and last-mile prescription services.

What to watch

  • Number and geography of follow-on Netmeds store openings within the next two to four quarters.
  • Evidence of app-enabled pickup, in-store prescription upload, same-day delivery or shared inventory features.
  • Whether Netmeds stores are standalone units, shop-in-shops or attached to other Reliance formats.
  • Assortment mix between prescription drugs, OTC products, wellness, medical devices and beauty/personal care.
  • Changes in Netmeds delivery reach, pricing, loyalty benefits or chronic-medication subscription offers in Chennai.
  • Pharmacist hiring, drug-license disclosures, diagnostics tie-ups and local regulatory developments.
  • Competitive responses from Apollo Pharmacy, MedPlus, Tata 1mg, PharmEasy and neighborhood chemists.
  • Open additional Netmeds pilot stores in Chennai and other major metros with high online-order density.
  • Integrate store inventory with Netmeds app ordering for click-and-collect, rapid delivery and prescription fulfillment.
  • Use Reliance loyalty, JioMart and existing Reliance Retail footfall to cross-sell wellness, OTC, personal care and diagnostics services.
  • Pursue local diagnostic-lab, doctor-consultation, insurance and chronic-care partnerships to raise basket size beyond regulated prescription-drug margins.
  • Potentially add pharmacy formats inside or adjacent to existing Reliance Smart, Smart Bazaar and neighborhood retail locations.