When a person needs medicine, they cannot wait - they need the drugs immediately. This is especially true for the elderly, people with disabilities and those with chronic diseases. If there are few pharmacies in an area or they are located far from each other, this creates "pharmacy deserts" - places where people have difficulty getting the necessary medicines.
And this is a matter of life and death. According to the results of the study, 71% of respondents note: the more pharmacies in a settlement, the easier it is to find the necessary medicines. 66.8% of those surveyed also confirm that a larger number of pharmacies helps to find a lower price for medicines. What do pharmacy chains do for people To solve these problems, modern pharmacy chains perform much broader functions than just selling medicines. They provide professional pharmaceutical assistance: they advise people, help choose the right medicine, talk about analogues and more affordable alternatives. Pharmacy retailers have continued to open new pharmacies where there is a shortage, to ensure access to medicines in remote areas and even in front-line areas.
And for areas where there are no regular pharmacies, mobile pharmacy points are being created. In Ukraine, 85% of medicines are purchased by Ukrainians at their own expense, since the state does not have the ability to cover all costs through reimbursement programs. Wartime conditions require maximum accessibility of medical care and flexibility of the healthcare system.
Source: https://www.unian.ua/economics/other/ukrajina-maye-naynizhchi-aptechni-nacinki-v-yevropi-14-proti-20-v-susidnih-krajinah-13127019.html#
