Rise of the mail-order pharmacy
As patient expectations of convenience and accessibility increase, a growing number of online pharmacies develop, supplying a wide range of medications direct to patient homes. Internet and mail-order pharmacies become the most widely used channel for the supply and distribution of drugs. Patients subscribe to automated reminder services and repeat prescriptions as the concept of ‘healthcare on demand’ grows.
Proposed workforce impact
- Reduced demand for pharmacists in traditional roles such as dispensing.
- Reduced need for local pharmacy services.
Sources or references
- http://www.pharmacy2u.co.uk/static/aboutus
- http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/04/ business/04drug.html?_r=0
- http://www.parliament.uk/documents/post/postpn246.pdf
Additional research questions
- How effective are current online pharmacy services?
- What are the current revenue figures for online channels?
- How many online pharmacies currently exist? And has this number been increasing over the past few years?
Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.
