How the relationship between the citizen and the pharmacist has changed since the beginning of the pandemic was then studied by the Institute for Health Policy to determine, among other things, whether people began to visit pharmacies for other reasons than the established ones, but also their degree of satisfaction with the services provided.

A pan-Greek study presented at a conference of the Panhellenic Pharmaceutical Association shows that there has been an increase in citizens’ preference for specific pharmacists since the pandemic, due to relationships that have developed during the Covid-19 period. Also, now citizens visit pharmacies not only to buy medicines and issue prescriptions.

73.1% visit a specific pharmacy

According to the study, the pandemic has led to a tightening of relations between citizens and pharmacists, as 73.1% of respondents now seem to choose a trusted pharmacy for their purchases. Yes, tthe criterion of “trust” plays a much larger role than geographical location pharmacies, as only 15% choose pharmacies close to their home or work.

However, the relationship of trust that has developed between the citizen and the pharmacist is mainly related to the drug treatment of the former, and for other medical issues, citizens seem to prefer to contact their doctor first and then the pharmacist. In particular, when asked if they would consult their pharmacist for other medical issues, 54.5% answered that it was possible, and 42.7% would not seek additional advice.

In terms of access, the majority of citizens stated that they had little problem finding a pharmacy if needed. In particular, only 14.10% of the respondents did not have access to a pharmacy in the last 12 months, with the number 1 reason being that they could not find a pharmacy where they could spend the night.

53% were vaccinated against the flu at the pharmacy

At the same time, despite the fact that the main reason for visiting a pharmacy is the fulfillment of a prescription for taking medicines (89.5%). it seems that the pandemic has become an occasion to add additional reasons.

In particular, 53% visited a pharmacy to get a flu shot and other injectables, 44.4% to ask for advice on how to deal with an emergency, and 26.9% to ask for help to make an appointment. admission to other services. healthcare systems.

In addition to the above, the percentage of those who would like to have this particular service in the pharmacy from now on is even higher: 67.6% answered positively. Other services that citizens would like to include in pharmacies are the treatment of minor injuries and the ability to measure weight, sugar and blood pressure.

Why did citizens go to pharmacies during a pandemic?

Finally, thanks to this particular study, it turns out that citizens during the pandemic went to pharmacies for other reasons than usual. In particular, the vast majority of citizens, 85.5%, turned to a pharmacist for self-testing. 82.7% went to the pharmacy to buy masks, and 70.2% went for a rapid test. Citizens who decided to make an appointment at a pharmacy for vaccination against Covid-19 reached 42.2%.

As Professor of Health Policy of the University of Peloponnese Mr. Kyriakos Souliotis noted, explaining the results of the survey, “The fact that 42.2% chose a pharmacy to make an appointment for Covid-19 vaccination shows that pharmacies functioned as a service center during pandemics. And the reason for this is not only that they did not have access to electronic platforms, but also that many wanted to get advice from pharmacists about vaccination, but there were those who preferred the vaccine of one company or another, and pharmacists helped them in it.”