Even in the world of drugs – with a pandemic acceleration – yes home delivery is widespread, i.e. the fast home delivery of the product, within the day, through third-party platforms that collect multiple pharmacies near the house, a system different from the e-commerce site of the pharmacy itself, which delivers the package by courier even throughout Italy, in several days . Altroconsumo Insalute of April 2021 dedicates a survey, the results of which will also be sent to the reference institutions, to this service that “works” but for which “clearer rules” would be needed.
“We tried to place orders in Rome, Naples and Milan through these services: Consegnefarmaci.it, Comqura.it, Pharmap.it, Pharmercure, Pharmaprime and Glovo. Furthermore, given that even the pharmacies themselves, in addition to landing on these platforms third parties, they organized with their home delivery, we also did some tests with the Lloydsfarmacia app (from the site they do traditional e-commerce and not home delivery), with Farmaciaigea.com (Rome) and Detommasis.it ( Naples) by phone, as indicated on the site, on which they also have a classic e-commerce, which delivers in a few days this ambiguity between home delivery and e-commerce in the pharmaceutical sector is one of the issues addressed in the article“, explains Altroconsumo.
“The service of proven delivery platforms – continues Altroconsumo – it wasn’t always perfect, but in general it works and is very comfortable: we think of the restrictions due to the health emergency or to those who cannot move for health reasons, perhaps because they are in isolation and need to receive the drugs prescribed by the doctor for Covid at home, in case of need, we also remember the services for the home delivery of Federfarma and Red Cross medicines, free of charge for the frail and for those who are positive for Covid. The platforms are heterogeneous: they range from those that have a showcase of products to those that require a form, telephone or whatsapp for orders, up to others in which you enter your address and you will see the list of nearby pharmacies that deliver through a delivery man “.
“Delivery times are fast, same day – continues Altroconsumo – and you can also choose a time slot. However, in our tests, there was not always punctuality. And the delay, even of more than an hour or the non-delivery of a drug, as it has happened to us, are no small thing, if we talk about necessary medicines: it is better to take this into account. prescription medicines, reimbursable (NHS prescription) or not (white prescription) “.
At the moment, however – according to the association – the world of drug delivery seems to be moving in an at least little defined regulatory context. The 2014 law on the online sale of medicines, in itself, would prohibit the sale of prescription drugs through pharmacy websites; Furthermore, in a circular of 2016, the Ministry of Health clarified that the online sale of over-the-counter drugs is allowed only on authorized pharmacy sites (recognizable by a specific logo) and not through other sites, apps, marketplaces, intermediaries.
“But, then, what is happening with home delivery, with which – in fact – even prescription medicines and through sites other than the pharmacy? It seems that the distinction lies in the fact that the norm concerns distance selling on the e-commerce site of the pharmacy and not the platforms for home delivery, even if – in practice – we are always talking about getting the medicines home. In the interviews with Aifa and Federfarma reported in the article we have been confirmed that the issue needs clarification and that a discussion table with the Ministry of Health has been requested: Altroconsumo will send the results of the investigation to the institutions offering its contribution to the discussion “.