The e-pharmacist, the future of pharmacy

With the advent of e-commerce, the professions of pharmacist and para-pharmacist are tending to evolve towards new skills and a new status, that of cyber-pharmacist.

All pharmacists and para-pharmacists with a website have the choice of subcontracting SEO to a web agency, or hiring an in-house pharmacist to manage the site, increase awareness, optimize positioning and implement all the tools needed to convert web users into customers.

But for all of them, whether they are involved in e-commerce or entrust this task to a third party, this new legislation is revolutionizing their business, and adjustments need to be made if they are to approach the Internet shift with confidence.

Webmarketing to inform and guide future e-pharmacists

A year after the new legislation came into force authorizing the online sale of medicines not subject to medical prescription, many pharmacists are trying their hand at the adventure, and for professionals dedicated to health marketing on the web, two pharmacist profiles stand out. First, there are those who know nothing about running a website, and would like training to understand the ins and outs of such an activity (techniques, tools, ROI, etc.). These pharmacists generally opt to outsource their pharmacy.

Secondly, there are pharmacists who are internet-savvy but haven't mastered today's webmarketing techniques. They need the keys to be effective and know how to activate the right levers. For these pharmacists, site management is done in-house by a trained cyber-preneur.

Although more or less armed to face the rise of e-pharmacy, all pharmacists share the same fears about this new activity, which they neither master nor can materialize. Curious but cautious, they need time and results to get to grips with this new tool. They don't immediately realize that this is a business in its own right that needs to be managed daily and seriously. As a result, they often turn to training once the online pharmacy has been launched, rather than in anticipation of its creation.

Today, all pharmacists recognize the need for training, because in the long term, the online pharmacy will be a major lever for developing sales.

The need to create dedicated school curricula

While the approach seems accessible and recommended, it has to be said that the cost of training can be a hindrance for pharmacies that receive very little in the way of subsidies. Recent legislation is encouraging pharmacies to develop online, but for the time being does not provide optimum support in terms of budget. With this in mind, Itekpharma has designed a training program that includes all the levers needed to master and manage your e-officin (Webmarketing, SEO, SEA, Social Media...). Itekpharma is the only company in this niche specific to e-pharmacies, and stresses the need to integrate this new aspect into university courses. Itekpharma is currently working to develop a dedicated curriculum that takes account of this need for versatility within schools and universities, and is also lobbying the OCPA (Organisme Paritaire Collecteur Agréé) to make training courses more financially accessible.

 "It's not just about training, it's about passing on my know-how and passion so that each and every one of our customers takes real pleasure in putting their new professional skills into practice."
Aurélie VASSELIN, Itekpharma Webmarketing Manager & Webmarketing Trainer