Medication Finding Stress

Due to chaotic supply chains, patients are often left searching for medicines independently.

Hospitals cannot remotely confirm pharmacy availability before issuing prescriptions, turning the process into guesswork. Patients face queues at pharmacies, wait days for sourcing essentials, or drive miles to other locations that may or may not have the medications.

Chains and independent pharmacies alike are short-staffed, leading to long lines and frustrating experiences. Customers encounter empty shelves and chaotic operations. Satisfaction with brick-and-mortar pharmacies dropped 10 points in 2024 alone, according to a study by J.D. Power.

During a recent visit to a pharmacy partner, an elderly woman collapsed after driving two hours between pharmacies seeking her medications. We assisted her, but the pharmacy could only supply the drug the following week.

Using Pharmachain, we helped her locate it else where. We could not pass up the opportunity to showcase the impact of our platform. Medicine shortages have been prominent in UK headlines since early 2022, creating stress not just for patients but also for pharmacists, particularly community pharmacists, where most prescriptions are dispensed. A study published in The Pharmaceutical Journal revealed that almost three-quarters (72% of 304) of community pharmacists cited medicines shortages as a source of stress, with a similar proportion (74% of 311) saying that dealing with shortages and sourcing alternatives are barriers to their jobs.

They acknowledged that a digital tool or solution is urgently needed!