Telepharmacy

Introduction

Telepharmacy refers to the delivery of pharmaceutical care service through telecommunication to patients in locations where they may not have direct contact with a pharmacist.

  • Some of the possible services are patient counselling, drug therapy monitoring (e.g. side effects or drug interactions) and drug compliance monitoring.



Advantages: Improve patients' satisfaction

Improved access to healthcare

  • Particularly beneficial for rural and remote area or patients with mobility issues.
  • Patients can receive healthcare services from the comfort of their own homes. In other words, they do not have to travel long distances to see a pharmacist.

Reduced waiting times and patient crowding

  • Pharmacists can provide remote counselling and medication management services to patients.



Disadvantages

Technology limitations

  • Telepharmacy requires a reliable internet connection and the availability of appropriate device （e.g. smartphones).
  • Patients who have limited technical skills may find it difficult to use telepharmacy services.
  • Also, the start-up of telepharmacy (hardware, software, connectivity and operational cost) involves considerable time, effort and money.

Resistance to use telepharmacy

  • Some patients may prefer the traditional face-to-face consultation due to familiarity and they are concern about the quality of care they will receive.
  • Some pharmacist may also be reluctant to adopt telepharmacy due to quality concern. At worst, miscommunications may lead to medication errors or misunderstandings.

Lack the personal interaction

  • Patients may miss the human touch and empathy that comes with face-to-face interactions.

Privacy and security concerns

  • Patients may be concerned about the confidentiality of their medical information and the possibility of data breaches.



Summary

Telepharmacy undoubtedly is a good concept, but it is sometimes challenging to put into practice due to legal challenges and pitfalls that need to be addressed.

Nonetheless, it is worth questioning the need for telepharmacy if patients are able to physically visit a pharmacy for their healthcare needs.

  • Telepharmacy can indirectly raise resource utilization, such as manpower and costs.
  • Also, delivering medications by post carries the risk of delay, theft or lost during transit. Some medications also require refrigeration, and inappropriate temperature and conditions during transit may compromise their efficacy.



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