With pharmacy developing as a strategic priority, rapid commerce is anticipated to strengthen its dominance across numerous categories as 2025 draws near. There will probably be more supply chain integration, increased competition, and consolidation in the sector.

New startups like Medinos and Medstown are already entering the segment, targeting faster deliveries and raising funds to expand.

Quick commerce has the potential to revolutionize pharmaceutical delivery by transforming customer expectations and market dynamics through innovation, collaborations, and substantial capital expenditures. Consumer safety, prescription compliance, and medicine authenticity are still major regulatory obstacles. However, experts contend that these obstacles can be overcome.

“Quick commerce firms’ agility allows them to navigate regulatory landscapes effectively, while online platforms inherently provide better transparency and traceability,” says Somdutta Singh, founder of Assiduus and investor with Karma Holdings.

Leading quick commerce players like Swigg,y Instamart, and Flipkart Minutes have already entered the space, and others such as BBNow are expected to follow suit. Experts believe this shift will make pharmacy products faster and more convenient to obtain.

Ninad Karpe, founder of 100x.vc says, “Quick commerce, which is based on data-driven scalability and flexible infrastructure, is set to revolutionise pharmacy delivery in terms of speed, accessibility, and convenience. This model thrives on meeting urgent needs, which is exactly in line with customer desires for medications.”

With more than 1,100 active competitors, well-known brands like Netmeds (Reliance Retail), Tata 1mg, PharmEasy, and Apollo Pharmacy now dominate India's online pharmacy sector. However, the market is anticipated to be severely disrupted by the arrival of rapid commerce platforms, which will take use of their data and delivery networks.

Deep Bajaj, an angel investor and e-commerce expert, says, “Quick commerce platforms can consolidate critical needs like medicines with daily essentials, optimizing delivery costs and enhancing economic viability”.