Operating a Pharmacy Website or Mobile App
The technological advancements of the last few decades have reshaped life, commerce and health care. Nearly four fifths (78,9%) of households in South Africa have access to the internet and mobile phone penetration is at 92%, according to the last national Census. It is thus a foregone conclusion that pharmacies would wish to offer certain services through websites and mobile apps.
The technological advancements of the last few decades have reshaped life, commerce and health care. Nearly four fifths (78,9%) of households in South Africa have access to the internet and mobile phone penetration is at 92%, according to the last national Census. It is thus a foregone conclusion that pharmacies would wish to offer certain services through websites and mobile apps.
Operating a GPP-compliant website or app for a community or institutional pharmacy
The technological advancements of the last few decades have reshaped life, commerce and health care. Nearly four fifths (78,9%) of households in South Africa have access to the internet and mobile phone penetration is at 92%, according to the last national Census. It is thus a foregone conclusion that community and institutional pharmacies would wish to offer certain services through websites and mobile apps. While such commercial endeavours are permissible, it is important that they comply with legislation, especially Rule 1.5 of the Rules relating to good pharmacy practice (“Minimum standards for community or institutional pharmacies operating websites”).
Information requirements for websites and apps
To curb illicit online pharmacies and ensure patient safety, legitimate pharmacies operating websites or mobile applications are required to comply with the requirements of minimum standard 1.5.4(c) of the Minimum standards for community or institutional pharmacies operating websites. Minimum standard 1.5.4(c) requires that the home page of any pharmacy website must identify the website as being operated by a pharmacy licensed by National Department of Health and recorded with Council and provide the following information:
- the registration number (Y number) of the pharmacy;
- the physical and postal address of the pharmacy;
- telephone number(s) to contact the pharmacy;
- the name of the responsible pharmacist; and
- the hours that a pharmacist is available for consultation.
Collection and delivery websites and apps
In terms of the Guidance document for the use of websites and mobile applications for the purposes of ordering, selling and delivering of medicines, a pharmacy or group of pharmacies may use a website or mobile app owned by a third party for the collection and delivery of medicines dispensed in terms of the Minimum standards for the dispensing of medicine or scheduled substances on the prescription of an authorised prescriber (GPP Rule 2.7), purchased from their pharmacy subject to compliance with the Minimum standards specifically relating to the collection and the delivery of medicines to patients from a community or institutional pharmacy (GPP Rule 2.7.5).
Quality of pharmaceutical services and the pharmacist’s professional responsibility
The use of mobile apps and websites, whether directly owned or operated by third parties, to offer pharmaceutical services should always be in line with legislation and Good Pharmacy Practice standards. Patients accessing medicines and pharmaceutical services through websites and apps are entitled to the same level of services and counselling as those visiting physical pharmacies. Pharmacists remain professionally liable for services offered regardless of any disclaimers which may be posted on the website or mobile app.
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