Do customers want convenience store pharmacies?

Press/Media: Expert Comment

Description

A convenience store stakeholder is urging Australia to look towards the Japanese experience and allow dispensing and health consults in the channel

Following a report in Fairfax Media over the weekend and a response by Pharmacy Guild national president George Tambassis, Jeff Rogut, CEO of the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores, has restated that consumers want pharmacies in these stores.

On Saturday, he told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age that “When we do surveys of our customers, pharmacy ranks up there with things like postal services as one of the top items they would like to see in a convenience store”.

“The reason why is because of the extended hours, the ability to park easily, get in and out quickly and do all the things they want to do … it would save them time and be more convenient.”

He also said that a concept like those seen in the US, with CVS or Walgreens-style drugstores, would be “warmly welcomed” by convenience store operators.

Subject

Role of community pharmacy

Period13 Aug 2019

Media contributions

1

Media contributions

  • TitleDo customers want convenience store pharmacies?
    Degree of recognitionNational
    Media name/outletAustralian Journal of Pharmacy
    Media typeWeb
    Country/TerritoryAustralia
    Date13/08/19
    DescriptionA convenience store stakeholder is urging Australia to look towards the Japanese experience and allow dispensing and health consults in the channel
    Following a report in Fairfax Media over the weekend and a response by Pharmacy Guild national president George Tambassis, Jeff Rogut, CEO of the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores, has restated that consumers want pharmacies in these stores.

    On Saturday, he told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age that “When we do surveys of our customers, pharmacy ranks up there with things like postal services as one of the top items they would like to see in a convenience store”.

    “The reason why is because of the extended hours, the ability to park easily, get in and out quickly and do all the things they want to do … it would save them time and be more convenient.”
    And Dr Mark Morgan, Chair of the RACGP Expert Committee – Quality Care (REC-QC) told newsGP that as long as patient safety was not compromised, pharmacy deregulation could increase choice and access, and thus be a positive step for consumers.

    “My view is that pharmacists are best engaged as part of GP-led primary care teams providing medication education for patients, dispensing expertise and working with GPs on medication governance,” he said.

    “I would like to see a defined role for pharmacy assistants so they are not serving up pseudo-medical advice to sell products of little benefit.”
    Producer/AuthorMegan Haggan, Australian Journal of Pharmacy
    URLhttps://ajp.com.au/news/do-customers-want-convenience-store-pharmacies/
    PersonsMark Morgan