Rome, 12 April (beraking latest news Salute) – Even in the world of drugs – with an acceleration in the pandemic – home delivery has spread, that is, the delivery of the product to the home quickly, within the day, through third different from the e-commerce site of the pharmacy itself, which delivers the package by courier also throughout Italy, in several days. Altroconsumo Insalute of April 2021 dedicates an investigation, 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 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 telephone, as indicated on the site, on which they also have a classic e-commerce, which delivers in a few days. And this ambiguity between home delivery and e-commerce in the pharmaceutical sector is precisely one of the nodes addressed in the article “, explains Altroconsumo.
“The service of the proven delivery platforms – continues Altroconsumo – has not always been perfect, but in general it works and is very convenient: 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 needs to receive at home the drugs prescribed by the doctor for Covid, in case of need, we also remember the services for home delivery of medicines of Federfarma and Red Cross, free for fragile subjects 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 provide 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 they deliver through a delivery man “.
“Delivery times are fast, within the 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 over an hour or failure 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 them into account.On the tested sites (except Glovo) you can also order prescription medicines, reimbursable (NHS prescription) or not (prescription white) “.
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 only allowed on authorized pharmacy sites (recognizable by a special logo) and not through other sites, apps, marketplaces, intermediaries.
“But, then, what is happening with home delivery, with which – in fact – they also get prescription medicines at home 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 “.