Q1 2022: the outlook for e-pharmacies

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a catalyst for e-pharmacy adoption and Forum Interviews suggest that once patients switch from brick-and-mortar outlets, they are unlikely to revert. Experts say this budding market is seeking to capitalise on traditional pharmacy’s slow-moving approach to innovation, low Net Promoter Scores and high error rates. 

Although e-pharmacy’s biggest competitors are still by far the brick-and-mortar incumbents, a former director at Alto Pharmacy told us that competition is heating up at the “second tier” e-pharmacy level, signalling that these players are gaining ground. “I would say yes, in terms of these legacy pharmacies, are they worried? They’re definitely worried.”