MercadoLibre seeks Chile pharmacy licence after Brazil pilot

E‑commerce company MercadoLibre has met with Chilean officials at least six times to propose an in‑house, online‑only pharmacy model. The plan would require changes to Chile’s regulations, which currently do not permit an online‑only drugstore, and the health ministry has advised the firm to obtain a technical evaluation from the Public Health Institute.

In Brazil, MercadoLibre launched a pilot in March after buying a physical drugstore to satisfy local rules, selling over‑the‑counter medicines with delivery promised in about three hours. The Chile proposal is part of the firm’s broader strategy to expand its own retail operations beyond third‑party sellers, a shift that has pressured margins and seen its stock fall roughly 11% this year.