Tongrentang, the well-known Chinese traditional drug store, plans to open a Chinese traditional medical hospital by the end of this year, Xinhua reported (in Chinese). It will be the first hospital operated by a pharmacy chain in China. Tongrentang will invest US$10.56 million in the hospital, which will be located in Qianmen District in Beijing and will serve the basic medical needs of middle and lower income patients and citizens, said Mei Qun, the company's general manager. Consumers usually consult with experienced doctors sitting in Tongrentang's more than 300 stores throughout the county for prescriptions before they buying the drugs.