Being able to buy medication online is an immense help and can be extremely convenient. However, being able to discuss the health challenges with the pharmacist even without being in the shop, must be an essential aspect of this process.
Healthcare has changed
There are now far greater restrictions on human movement, gathering and interactions. This has placed a trip to the doctors at a higher level of risk. It is now not advised to simply make an appointment for your routine checkup, but to only go into your primary health care provider in emergencies. It is thus a movement online and towards telephonic healthcare and virtual online medical assessments, in conjunction with remote testing, personally worn measurement tools and devices that the entire sector is moving towards.
The risks of self-diagnosis
This has left many at the mercy of either incorrect medical advice, Web MD, social media platforms for self-diagnosis and the anxiety and stress related to these. Notwithstanding the actual health damage that can be done by the new fad of self-diagnosis and then simply using an online pharmacy to get the medication, that you think you need. The risks of self-diagnosis using online sites and forums is on the increase and the best advice is to only use registered and trusted sites and always get a professional opinion before you take any medication are obvious and range from incorrect diagnosis to the possibility of overlooking a serious condition if the symptoms don’t match up with the particular site that you visited on the day.
How pharmacies must fill the gap
It has thus become incumbent on the pharmacies that are filling this gap to provide more than just the pharmaceuticals and medicines. It is a societal need and simply good, ethical business to additionally offer and provide a before and after advisory service as well as assistance in the diagnostic and assessment phases.
Prior to the pandemic, there was a movement towards pharmacists being registered and qualified as clinical pharmacists to be able to provide an improved diagnostic process for patients. This took a great deal of pressure off the medical provision from state and federal hospitals and doctors. It has since become increasingly structured, and pharmacists and online chemists such as chemistclick.co.uk are now not alone in offering a process of assessment before any medication is sold or provided. This engagement or interaction must be at the core of all healthcare offerings and systems online.
The future of healthcare
The future of healthcare has been argued to be online. Machine learning, automated systems for testing and ongoing health monitoring using the best technology are only the start. However, and for a humanist, sustainable future of healthcare, there will need to be continued patient/clinician/chemist communication and engagement. Regardless of whether you can buy all your medication seamlessly and easily online, you must also insist on a professional consultation if they are available, and all good online chemists and pharmacies now offer just this.
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