Intelligent Health.tech Issue 15 | Page 41

PHARMACIES CAN UTILISE AN ALL- IN-ONE ONLINE PORTAL THAT ACTS AS A PATIENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM , STOCK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND MARKETING PLATFORM FOR THEIR SERVICES .
I N D U S T R Y I N V E S T I G A T I O N directed into various channels across the sector with the purpose of supporting better delivery of primary care .
One sector that has received a funding injection is pharmacies . The government has announced a £ 645m funding boost to community pharmacies to help alleviate pressure on the NHS . The funding is part of what has been labelled the ‘ Pharmacy First ’ scheme .
Unfortunately , in real terms , this investment does little to account for inflation or for the structural weaknesses that have long plagued the pharmacy sector . Pharmacies , more specifically , independent pharmacies , of which there are now 11,000 ( the lowest number since 2015 ) need to onboard technology to ensure they are capable of keeping up with an increasing demand for services .
Why does ‘ Pharmacy First ’ need PharmaTech to work ?
The ‘ Pharmacy First ’ scheme has already been partially rolled out , first with the introduction of contraceptive medicines now available over the counter . No longer will millions of women have to request GP appointments to receive these types of medications . However , the increased responsibility and burden is yet to fully make itself known in pharmacies across England . Under the scheme , which comes into place on 31 January 2024 , patients suffering from certain ailments , e . g ., shingles , sore throat , UTI , will be directed first to a pharmacy for treatment instead of a GP . Pharmacists will also be able to prescribe medication for the seven agreed ailments , previously only the remit of GPs and this is

PHARMACIES CAN UTILISE AN ALL- IN-ONE ONLINE PORTAL THAT ACTS AS A PATIENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM , STOCK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND MARKETING PLATFORM FOR THEIR SERVICES .

www . intelligenthealth . tech 41