Latest news with #ApolloPharmacy
Mint
22-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Apollo SBI Card Select offers huge savings on medical expenses: Should you take it?
Do you or someone in the family require regular medical support? It may be in the form of doctor consultations, diagnostic tests, medicines, etc. If yes, you can save money on these medical expenses with the Apollo SBI Card Select. The savings can go up to a whopping 25%. In this article, we will look at the features and benefits of this card and whether you should take it. The Apollo SBI Card Select is a co-branded credit card launched by Apollo 24|7 in partnership with SBI Card. It offers healthcare and wellness benefits across the Apollo ecosystem. It also gives rewards on non-healthcare spends like dining, entertainment, and travel, along with complimentary domestic airport lounge access. The features and benefits of the Apollo SBI Card Select include the following. Welcome benefit: The cardholder gets a welcome benefit of Rs. 1,500 Apollo 24|7 e-gift voucher on payment of joining fee. The voucher can be redeemed offline at Apollo Pharmacy stores and online through the Apollo 24|7 platform. It can be redeemed against medicines, Apollo private label products, FMCG and other healthcare products. Apollo Circle benefits: The cardholder gets complimentary in-built Apollo Circle benefits in the form of value back and savings. The benefits apply when transacting using the Apollo SBI Card Select at Apollo Pharmacy stores and on the Apollo 24|7 website/App. Some of these benefits include: Up to 15% value back on medicines Up to 20% value back on diagnostic services Up to 10% value back on doctor consultations The value back is credited as Health Credits to the Apollo 24|7 wallet. The value of each Health Credit is Rs. 1. Health benefits: You get to enjoy a 1-year complimentary Fitpass Pro membership on payment of the joining fee and doing one retail transaction. The membership gives access to a network of gyms and other fitness centres. On spending Rs. 50,000 within 90 days of card membership, you get a complimentary comprehensive health check-up. The complimentary health check-up can be availed every year on spending Rs. 50,000 within 90 days of card renewal. The reward points awarded on the card are as follows: 10 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent on Apollo 24|7 and Apollo Pharmacy stores. A cardholder can earn a maximum of 5,000 reward points in this category per statement cycle. 2 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent on dining, movies and entertainment, and travel. A cardholder can earn a maximum of 5,000 reward points in this category per statement cycle. 1 reward point for every Rs. 200 spent on other purchases Reward points must be converted into Health Credits on the SBI Card website and App. The value of 1 reward point equals 1 Health Credit. The converted Health Credits will reflect in the Apollo 24|7 wallet. The value of each Health Credit is Rs. 1. Health Credits can be used within the Apollo ecosystem, including Apollo 24|7, Apollo Diagnostics, Apollo Medical Centres, and Apollo Pharmacy. Health Credits can be used to pay for doctor consultations, diagnostic tests, medicine orders, etc. The Health Credits wallet balance will be auto-applied at checkout for eligible transactions. Milestone benefits: On annual spends of Rs. 6 lakhs on the card, the cardholder gets complimentary Noise Smartwatch worth Rs. 7,999. Airport lounge access: The cardholder can enjoy 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge access per year (1 per quarter). The cardholder gets a 2-year complimentary Priority Pass membership worth $99. Fuel surcharge waiver: The 1% fuel surcharge is waived across all petrol pumps in India. The waiver applies to fuel transactions between Rs. 500 and Rs. 4,000. The maximum surcharge waiver is Rs. 100 per month. When you purchase medicines from an Apollo Pharmacy or the Apollo 24|7 platform, you get two benefits. You get 10 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent. The 10 reward points are equivalent to 10 Health Credits. As part of Apollo Circle benefits, you get up to 15% value back as Health Credits in your Apollo 24|7 wallet. Clubbing the two benefits: Reward points (10% value back) on the card and Health Credits (up to 15% value back) on the Apollo Circle membership. When you combine the two benefits, you can get total benefits of up to 25% value back. That is an excellent value back on medicine purchases. Similarly, clubbing the two benefits on doctor consultations gives up to 20% value back and on diagnostic tests gives up to 30% value back. All these benefits will result in a lot of savings on medical expenses. As the Apollo SBI Card Select is a co-branded card issued in partnership with Apollo 24|7, it limits the cardholder to the Apollo ecosystem. The only way to redeem the reward points is to convert them into Health Credits by transferring them to the Apollo 24|7 wallet. The reward rate falls sharply when you use the card outside the Apollo ecosystem. Members who are already a part of the Apollo ecosystem will find a lot of value in this credit card. Others will have to move to the Apollo ecosystem to get good value out of this card. The joining fee for the card is Rs. 1,499 + Taxes. The renewal fee is Rs. 1,499 + Taxes. The renewal fee is waived on spending Rs. 3 lakhs in the previous year. If you or someone in your family needs regular medical support, you may consider the Apollo SBI Card Select. It gives benefits like healthcare discounts and value back within the Apollo ecosystem, a complimentary Fitpass Pro membership, a health check-up, etc. It also offers other benefits like complimentary domestic airport lounge access, complimentary Noise Smartwatch on annual milestone spend, reversal of renewal fee based on spends in the previous year, etc. Overall, it is a good credit card packed with powerful features and benefits. Gopal Gidwani is a freelance personal finance content writer with 15+ years of experience. He can be reached at LinkedIn.
Mint
15-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
SBI Card joins hands with Apollo to launch wellness focused credit card
SBI Card and Apollo HealthCo, which operates Apollo Pharmacy, have extended their strategic partnership to introduce a health and wellness focused co-branded credit card - Apollo SBI Card SELECT card. This one-of-its-kind premium credit card has been thoughtfully designed to address the evolving needs of today's health-conscious consumers, offering a compelling blend of healthcare savings and financial rewards. Customers can easily apply for this card digitally on the Apollo 24|7 app and opt to apply via SBI Card SPRINT, by visiting the SBI Card website SBI Customers can also apply for the card at select Apollo Pharmacy stores. The Apollo SBI Card SELECT cardholders are entitled to enjoy a rewarding shopping experience on transactions, including pharmacy products, health check-up packages, blood tests, and more through the Apollo 24|7 app and Apollo Pharmacy stores. Cardholders get 10 per cent back as reward points, and additionally up to 15 per cent back as health credits, giving them a total value back of up to 25%. Reward points can be converted into Health Credits, which are redeemable across the entire product range of Apollo 24|7 App and Apollo pharmacy stores. Apollo SBI Card SELECT card customers receive ₹ 1,500 e-gift voucher as welcome benefits, redeemable on the Apollo 24|7 app and at Apollo pharmacy stores. They are also entitled to Apollo Circle benefits that provide priority access to services and special discounts on doctor consultations, diagnostic tests and pharmacy orders on Apollo platforms. Additionally, Apollo SBI Card SELECT card customers also get a complimentary 1-year FITPASS PRO Membership, offering access to a wide network of gyms, fitness classes, and wellness programs, across India. Salila Pande, MD & CEO, SBI Card said, 'At SBI Card, we understand the evolving spending needs and aspirations of today's conscious consumers who are focused on good health and well-being. Our collaboration with Apollo HealthCo to introduce Apollo SBI Card SELECT card is firmly aligned with this need. By offering thoughtful healthcare benefits and valuable rewards, we aim to empower our customers to stay committed to their health and wellness goals, while enjoying varied financial benefits.' Shobana Kamineni, executive chairperson, Apollo HealthCo said, 'With the Apollo SBI Credit Card, we're introducing a revolutionary financial product designed to seamlessly connect health and wellness with everyday living. By turning everyday spending into health investments, we're making access to care seamless, intuitive, and affordable. It's our way of saying that healthcare should be earned, saved, and accessed just as easily as any other essential. This is the future of health—and we are proud to build it with SBI Card. Together, we will be the health keeper of the nation.' Disclaimer: Mint has a tie-up with fintechs for providing credit, you will need to share your information if you apply. These tie-ups do not influence our editorial content. This article only intends to educate and spread awareness about credit needs like loans, credit cards and credit score. Mint does not promote or encourage taking credit as it comes with a set of risks such as high interest rates, hidden charges, etc. We advise investors to discuss with certified experts before taking any credit.
News18
21-04-2025
- Business
- News18
A Medicine Alternative To Blinkit, Zepto: Apollo Healthcare CEO Discusses Expansion Of 19-Minute Delivery Model
Last Updated: The company is working to make the availability of medicines in both acute and chronic cases faster and currently, in Delhi-NCR, 48 per cent orders are delivered within 19 minutes while across India, 82 per cent orders are delivered within a day If you can buy a packet of chips in 10 minutes, why not your blood pressure pills? What Blinkit, Zepto and other quick-commerce delivery apps did for groceries, Apollo Pharmacy is trying to do for medicines with just 19-minute delivery. However, stakes are much higher in the e-pharmacy business, which involves delivering life-saving drugs, Madhivanan Balakrishnan, chief executive officer, Apollo Healthco, told News18 in an exclusive interaction. Just like buying groceries, people are now buying medicines more often in smaller amounts instead of planning and buying in bulk. But at some level, the comparison between grocery apps and Apollo may become 'fundamentally flawed", Balakrishnan said, while discussing the company's plan to strengthen its 19-minute medicine delivery. Apollo Healthco is the parent company of Apollo Pharmacy and Apollo 24|7, an omni-channel health platform that offers online medicine delivery, online consultations, home lab tests and digital health records among other features. 'Stakes are much higher in healthcare delivery. Delayed medicine isn't just an inconvenience as it can directly impact someone's well-being." There are a lot of 'nuances and sensitivities" while delivering life-saving drugs, Balakrishnan said, adding: 'But, with Apollo's legacy in pharmacy, an integrated supply chain, our technology and a 6,500-strong store network, we are well placed to lead this shift allowing us to deliver speed with trust." The company said it is working to make the availability of medicines in both acute and chronic cases faster and currently, in Delhi-NCR, '48 per cent orders are delivered within 19 minutes" while across India, 82 per cent orders are delivered within a day. The major difference between grocery apps and Apollo is the delivery of 'prescription medicines" which are often time-sensitive and critical for a consumer's health. Balakrishnan believes that the company's quick delivery model is designed to meet that urgency—without compromising on safety or compliance. 'Every prescription order goes through a robust, multi-layered validation process. The moment an order is placed, it's digitally screened for prescription authenticity, ensuring it meets regulatory standards." After being verified digitally, the company told News18 that each prescription is reviewed and approved by a registered pharmacist before dispatch, adding critical human oversight to the automated flow. All of this, the company claims, is tightly integrated with its real-time inventory systems, which help locate the nearest store for fastest fulfilment. Quick Delivery Biz Set To Expand Soon, the quick delivery business will be expanded further. 'Our aim is to strengthen our quick delivery offerings profitably to more cities in the days to come," the CEO said. The quick delivery service is currently live in major metros like Delhi/NCR, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Kolkata, including some parts of Chennai and Mumbai. 'The service will be rolled out in 10 more cities over the next six months, with a goal of covering an additional 5,000 pin codes by year-end," he said, explaining that the next phase will see them expand to 20 additional cities. 'To enable this, we are investing in technology and expanding our retail pharmacy footprint too." How Did The Journey Start? Apollo 24|7 was launched just before the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. 'The platform began with a two-hour delivery promise, rooted in the insight that nearly 62 per cent of health needs are acute and demand immediate attention." 'Quick delivery has always been at the core of our proposition and speed became the cornerstone of our approach from day one. Last year, we upped the game and launched 19-minute delivery with an understanding that acute medical needs require quick delivery." The company initiated the pilot in Delhi-NCR, and upon receiving a favourable response, extended it to five other cities. 'Quick commerce behaviour of more sporadic and frequent orders vis-à-vis planned bulk orders is being observed in pharmacy purchases as well. This has accelerated the need for real-time inventory visibility, automated prescription checks, optimised rider routing, and micro-warehousing for faster last-mile delivery." Backed by Apollo's supply chain expertise and pharmacy network, the company believes it is well-placed to bring efficiency to doorstep delivery. 'Continuous investments in technology, infrastructure, and operations have since helped us evolve into a truly omni-channel healthcare platform—offering not just medicines, but doctor consultations, diagnostics, wellness products, and more. We want Apollo 24|7 to become India's first port of call for all things health." Overall, Balakrishnan said the primary aim is to make sure 'we are able to deliver 90 per cent of orders the same day and we are close to achieving that milestone. At present, we are at 82 per cent." He added that currently in Delhi/NCR, 48 per cent orders are delivered within 19 minutes. In the brick-and-mortar segment, Apollo is the largest pharmacy chain in the country, with 80 per cent of India's population within a 40-minute reach of its services. According to the company's data, close to nine lakh transactions happen in these stores daily. 'We are focused on deepening our presence in high-demand Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, while working towards placing an Apollo Pharmacy within five minutes of every household and workplace in India's top metros." How Is e-Pharmacies Business Evolving? The omni-channel approach is gaining traction, with digital-first players expanding offline and vice versa, combining digital speed with physical trust. 'This is especially relevant in Tier 2 and 3 cities, where consumers still do not have an online-first mindset." However, scaling up presents challenges. 'Partnering with licensed pharmacies instead of relying solely on dark stores ensures trust and adherence to norms," Balakrishnan said, explaining that the company relies on analysing data, forecasting demand and streamlining the delivery process. News18 India delivers breaking news, top headlines, and live updates on politics, weather, elections, law and crime, much more. Stay informed with real-time coverage and in-depth analysis of current events across India. Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: April 21, 2025, 15:46 IST News india A Medicine Alternative To Blinkit, Zepto: Apollo Healthcare CEO Discusses Expansion Of 19-Minute Delivery Model
Reuters
31-01-2025
- Business
- Reuters
India's MedPlus Health Q3 profit triples on strong OTC drug demand
Jan 31 (Reuters) - India's MedPlus Health Services ( opens new tab reported a surge in third-quarter profit on Friday, driven by store expansions and strong demand for over-the-counter medicines. The company's consolidated net profit more than tripled to 458.8 million rupees ($5.3 million) in the quarter ended Dec. 31. MedPlus continued to benefit from strong sales of products under its private label brands in both the pharmaceuticals and consumer wellness categories, which analysts say contribute more to its margins. The company's revenue from operations rose 8.3% to 15.61 billion rupees, led by an 8% jump in its retail business. While MedPlus does not break up its revenue from OTC medicines and devices, etc, they are all part of its retail business, which makes up nearly all of the company's revenue. The company currently has more than 4,000 outlets across the country, trailing only Apollo Pharmacy's count of nearly 6,000 stores. Last year, MedPlus said it plans to open 600 stores to increase its presence in smaller cities. MedPlus competes with Reliance Industries' ( opens new tab Netmeds and Apollo Pharmacy, both of which are unlisted, among other retail pharmacies in the Indian OTC drug retail market. ($1 = 86.5830 Indian rupees) Keep up with the latest medical breakthroughs and healthcare trends with the Reuters Health Rounds newsletter. Sign up here.
