How to Develop an App Like Netmeds – Cost and Key Features

Digital healthcare is no longer a convenience; it has become a necessity. With rising smartphone usage, busy lifestyles, and growing health awareness, consumers increasingly prefer ordering medicines, booking lab tests, and consulting doctors online. Traditional brick-and-mortar pharmacies, while still relevant, are no longer sufficient to meet modern expectations of speed, accessibility, and affordability, which is why many healthcare startups and enterprises are choosing to develop an app like Netmeds to deliver seamless, end-to-end digital healthcare services.

As a Result, shift has paved the way for online pharmacy platforms like Netmeds, which combine medicine delivery, telemedicine, diagnostics, and healthcare content into a single, easy-to-use mobile app. By addressing everyday healthcare needs through a digital-first approach, Netmeds has positioned itself as one of India’s leading e-pharmacy platforms.

For entrepreneurs and healthcare businesses, the demand to develop an app like Netmeds is driven by repeat usage, strong retention, and the opportunity to build long-term trust-based relationships with users. Unlike many consumer apps, healthcare platforms benefit from recurring demand, especially for chronic care patients.

In this blog, we explore:

• Market opportunities and growth statistics
• Core and advanced features of a Netmeds-like app
• The end-to-end development process
• Required team structure
• Monetization strategies and cost considerations
• FAQs to help you plan effectively

Market Stats: Online Pharmacy & Digital Healthcare

In Contrast rise of platforms like Netmeds reflects a broader transformation in healthcare delivery. Consumers increasingly prefer digital channels for medicines, consultations, and diagnostics due to convenience, transparency, and cost efficiency.

Global Market Overview

•  At a Scale global digital health market is valued at approximately USD 350–380 billion in 2024 and is projected to cross USD 900 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 16–18%.

•  For Creators global online pharmacy market was valued at around USD 90–100 billion in 2023 and is expected to exceed USD 200–220 billion by 2030, driven by home delivery and telemedicine adoption.

•  Telehealth and e-pharmacy services have shown a 20–25% YoY growth, even after the pandemic peak.

India Market Opportunity

India is one of the fastest-growing markets for online pharmacy apps.

• India’s online pharmacy market is valued at approximately USD 5–6 billion (2024).

• Expected growth rate: 25–30% CAGR through 2030.

• Over 750 million smartphone users support large-scale adoption.

• Chronic illnesses (diabetes, BP, thyroid) affect 100+ million Indians, creating strong repeat demand.

• Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities contribute 50–55% of new online medicine orders.

YoY Growth & Future Outlook

• Online medicine orders: 20–25% YoY growth

• Subscription-based refills: 30–35% YoY growth

• Integrated healthcare apps (pharmacy + diagnostics + telemedicine) show 40% higher retention than single-purpose apps.

These numbers clearly highlight why startups and enterprises are investing to develop an app like Netmeds.

Core Features Develop an App Like Netmeds

Core features form the backbone of compliance, usability, and trust. For a healthcare app, reliability is more important than novelty.

1. Secure User Registration & Profiles

•   OTP-based login via phone number (preferred in India)

•   Email login for secondary access

•   Multiple profiles under one account (family members, elderly care)

•  Secure storage of personal and medical information

2. Medicine Search & Intelligent Discovery

Search by:

• Brand name

• Generic name

• Salt composition

• Health condition

•         Auto-suggestions and spelling correction

•         Substitute and alternative medicine suggestions

3. Prescription Upload & Management

•  Upload prescriptions via camera or file

•  Pharmacist verification before order approval

•  Prescription history stored securely

•  Mandatory compliance for Schedule H / H1 drugs

4. Online Medicine Ordering System

• Add-to-cart functionality

• Dosage, side effects, and usage instructions

• Easy reordering from previous purchases

• Quantity management for long-term medication

5. Delivery & Logistics Management

• Doorstep delivery

• Real-time order tracking

• Scheduled delivery for recurring medicines

• Cold-chain support for temperature-sensitive drugs

6. Payment Gateway Integration

• UPI, debit/credit cards

• Net banking and wallets

• Cash on delivery (region-dependent)

•  Invoice generation and GST compliance

7. Medicine Refill & Reminder System

• Automated refill reminders

• Push notifications for dosage schedules

• Subscription prompts for chronic patients

Advanced Features of a Netmeds-Like App

Advanced features help improve engagement, retention, and monetization while creating a complete digital healthcare ecosystem.

1. Telemedicine & Doctor Consultations

•  Video, audio, and chat consultations

•  Verified doctors across specialties

•  Digital prescriptions issued post-consultation

•  Appointment scheduling and follow-ups

2. Diagnostic & Lab Test Booking

•  Book pathology tests and health packages

•  Home sample collection

•  Digital lab reports stored in-app

•  Preventive health checkups

3. Subscription-Based Medicine Delivery

•  Monthly, quarterly, or custom plans

•  Automatic refills

•  Discounted pricing for subscribers

•  High retention for chronic care users

4. AI-Powered Medicine Alternatives

• Suggest generic substitutes with same composition

• Price comparison between brands

• Improves affordability and trust

5. Health Content & Education

• Articles on diseases and medicines

• Preventive healthcare guides

• Post-treatment care instructions

• Improves engagement and SEO visibility

6. Customer Support & In-App Chat

• Order-related support

• Prescription and refund assistance

• Chatbot + human support combination

Development Process: Step by Step

Step 1. Market Research & Compliance Planning

• Identify target regions
• Understand drug regulations
• Define compliance requirements

Step 2. Feature Planning & MVP Definition

• Core pharmacy features
• Prescription handling
• Basic delivery flow

Step 3. UI/UX Design

• Simple, senior-friendly design
• Clear medicine information
• Accessibility-focused navigation

Step 4. Backend Development

• User and order management
• Prescription verification workflows
• Payment and subscription logic

Step 5. Pharmacy & Inventory Integration

• Licensed pharmacy onboarding
• Inventory sync
• Cold-chain management (if required)

Step 6. Mobile App Development

• Android app (priority for India)
• iOS app
• Push notifications and reminders

Step 7. Testing & Security

• Functional and performance testing
• Data security and encryption
• Regulatory compliance checks

Step 8. Launch & Optimization

• Soft launch
• Monitor user feedback
• Scale features gradually

Required Team Structure

Product & Management

• Product Manager
• Project Manager

Design Team

• UI/UX Designer
• Accessibility Specialist (optional)

Engineering Team

Backend Developers

• APIs, prescriptions, payments

Mobile Developers

• Android and iOS

DevOps Engineer

• Cloud infrastructure
• Security and scaling

Healthcare & Compliance

• Licensed pharmacists
• Compliance officers

Operations & Support

• Customer support agents
• Logistics coordinators

Team Size

• MVP: 10–15 members
• Growth: 25–40 members

Monetization Methods Develop an App Like Netmeds

A successful online pharmacy platform depends on recurring, diversified revenue streams. Unlike one-time purchase apps, healthcare platforms benefit from repeat usage, chronic care demand, and long-term customer relationships. Below are the key monetization methods used by Netmeds-like apps.

1. Medicine Sales (Primary Revenue Stream)

Medicine sales form the backbone of revenue.

• Revenue is generated through margin-based pricing on prescription and OTC medicines
• Margins typically range between 10%–25%, depending on medicine category
• High repeat purchase rate, especially for chronic conditions such as diabetes, BP, and thyroid

Why it works:

• Medicines are a non-discretionary purchase
• Predictable demand ensures consistent cash flow

2. Subscription-Based Medicine Refills

Subscription models significantly improve user lifetime value (LTV).

• Monthly or quarterly auto-refill plans
• Discounted pricing for subscribers
• Automated deliveries reduce churn

Benefits:

• Subscription users place 2–3x more orders annually
• Helps forecast demand and manage inventory efficiently

3. Telemedicine & Doctor Consultation Fees

Digital consultations create an additional, high-margin revenue channel.

• Pay-per-consultation pricing
• Subscription healthcare plans (free or discounted consultations)
• Revenue-sharing model with doctors

Common pricing:

• ₹199–₹499 per consultation (India-focused market)

4. Diagnostic & Lab Test Commissions

Lab testing partnerships provide steady ancillary revenue.

• Commission earned per booked test
• Bundled health checkup packages
• Preventive care subscriptions

Why it scales:

• Preventive healthcare demand is rising
• Lab tests often lead to medicine purchases, increasing overall basket value

5. Chronic Care & Disease Management Programs

Targeted programs for long-term conditions generate premium revenue.

• Diabetes, cardiac care, BP, thyroid programs
• Monthly plans including medicines, consultations, and reports
• Personalized health tracking

This model increases retention while improving health outcomes.

6. Brand Promotions & Sponsored Listings

Pharmaceutical companies pay for visibility.

• Sponsored medicine listings
• Featured brand placements
• Seasonal health campaigns

Key advantage:

• Non-intrusive ads maintain user trust
• High relevance improves conversion rates

7. Health Insurance & Partner Integrations

Apps can earn referral commissions through insurance and wellness partners.

• Health insurance referrals
• Wellness programs
• Corporate healthcare tie-ups

This expands revenue without increasing user acquisition costs.

8. Data-Driven Insights (Ethical & Compliant Use)

Aggregated, anonymized data can be monetized responsibly.

• Market insights for pharma companies
• Disease trend analysis
• Prescription behavior reports

Note: Must comply with healthcare data privacy regulations.

9. Delivery & Convenience Fees

Optional charges for premium services.

• Express delivery fees
• Night-time delivery surcharges
• Remote location delivery fees

This helps offset rising logistics costs without affecting core pricing.

10. Cross-Selling & Upselling Healthcare Products

Beyond medicines, apps can sell:

• Health supplements
• Medical devices (glucometers, BP monitors)
• Personal care and wellness products

These products often carry higher margins than prescription medicines.

Why Diversified Monetization Matters

Relying on a single revenue stream increases risk. Netmeds-like apps succeed because they:

• Combine transactional and subscription revenue
• Monetize both users and partners
• Balance affordability with sustainability

A well-structured monetization strategy ensures long-term profitability while maintaining user trust.

Cost to Develop an App Like Netmeds

Development cost depends on features, compliance requirements, and scale.

MVP Development Cost

Includes:

• User registration

• Medicine catalog

• Prescription upload

• Basic delivery flow

💰 $30,000 – $60,000

Mid-Scale App (Most Startups)

Includes:

• Telemedicine

• Subscription system

• Lab test booking

• Admin dashboards

💰 $70,000 – $130,000

Enterprise-Grade Platform

Includes:

• AI-driven recommendations

• Advanced analytics

• Multi-region compliance

• High-scale logistics integration

💰 $150,000 – $300,000+

Ongoing Operational Costs

• Cloud hosting & infrastructure: $3,000–$12,000/month

• Logistics & delivery operations

• Pharmacist salaries & compliance audits

• App maintenance & marketing

Challenges in Building a Netmeds-Like App

1. Regulatory & Compliance Complexity

• Drug licensing

• Prescription verification

• Telemedicine regulations

Non-compliance can result in penalties or shutdowns.

2. Prescription Misuse Prevention

• Fake or reused prescriptions

• Controlled drug abuse risks

Requires strong pharmacist workflows.

3. Logistics & Cold-Chain Management

• Timely delivery of medicines

• Temperature-sensitive drugs

• Last-mile delivery challenges

4. Building User Trust

Healthcare demands trust.

• Authentic medicines

• Transparent pricing

• Secure data handling

5. Data Privacy & Security

• Sensitive health data

• Encryption and access control

• Compliance with data protection laws

6. Balancing Discounts & Profitability

Heavy discounting attracts users but can hurt margins.
Sustainable pricing is essential.

Conclusion

The growth of platforms like Netmeds signals a long-term shift toward digital-first healthcare delivery. Online pharmacy apps are no longer just e-commerce platforms; they are becoming integrated healthcare ecosystems that support prevention, treatment, and long-term care.

For businesses planning to develop an app like Netmeds, the opportunity lies in:

• High repeat usage

• Subscription-driven revenue

• Strong customer lifetime value

• Scalable healthcare services

However, success depends on more than technology. It requires:

• Strict regulatory compliance

• Reliable logistics

• Transparent pricing

• A user experience that builds trust over time

With the right strategy, execution, and partnerships, a Netmeds-like platform can grow into a sustainable, high-impact healthcare business with both social and commercial value.

FAQs