Las Condes will have its first municipal pharmacy: it will allow an estimated savings of 64.2% on medications

The commune of Las Condes (RM) will have its first communal pharmacy, a project that seeks to expand the alternatives for access to treatments for residents, especially for older adults, who represent nearly 25% of the commune's total population. The initiative was approved at today's municipal council meeting by 7 votes in favor and 4 against, with the votes against coming from Luis Hadad (RN); Francesca Gorrini (RN); Richard Kouyoumdjian (RN) and Guillermo Ureta (UDI). According to the municipality, the economic impact of this initiative is backed by a comparative analysis of 152 products and 95,870 units sold between October 2025 and September 2026 by the Botiquín Las Condes. According to the details provided, the study projected that, for those same products, residents would have paid $591 million annually at normal retail prices, while under the pricing model of the future pharmacy the amount could be approximately $211 million per year. This represents a difference of close to $380 million, equivalent to an estimated savings of 64.2%. In this regard, the mayor of Las Condes, Catalina San Martín, positively highlighted the approval of the project, stating that it will provide a savings alternative for families. "As a municipality, we have the responsibility to generate more alternatives, expand the offering, and facilitate access to services that improve our residents' quality of life. The communal pharmacy is in line with that and will provide a savings alternative for everyone in the commune regardless of whether they are with Fonasa or Isapre, especially for older adults, because we want them to live better and for no one to have to choose between caring for their health or caring for their budget," she said. Along with this, the communal authority also pointed out that the initiative will complement the offering already available through the Botiquín Las Condes, which allows people with a Vecino Card to obtain discounts of up to 87%. The proposal itself contemplates a sales model at acquisition cost plus a variable surcharge of up to 30%, along with supply through the Supply Center of the National Health Services System (Cenabast), an agency that allows communal pharmacies to access medicines at more convenient prices. As for the premises, it will be located in the Apoquindo with Vilanova area, with an area of 232.8 square meters, five service registers, and a projected capacity of between 3,486 and 7,186 users per month. In addition, in a second phase, there are plans to move forward with an online pharmacy that will allow residents to request their medications from home, with the option of pickup or home delivery. The launch of this initiative is estimated for the second quarter of 2027, once the works are completed and the corresponding sanitary authorizations for its implementation have been obtained.