Facilitating Access to Pharmaceutical Care in Rural and Remote Communities by Strengthening Telepharmacy.

Abstract

People living in rural, remote and underserved geographical locations are considered vulnerable for many reasons, including their inability to access essential medications at times of need for their ailments. The objectives of the article are to establish the necessity of telepharmacy, identify the existing challenges in the implementation and propose potential solutions to overcome these challenges. Telepharmacy refers to providing pharmaceutical care with the help of digital technology and telecommunication to persons who cannot access pharmacists physically. This becomes crucial in reducing healthcare disparities as we can ensure equitable access to pharmaceutical care for those in remote settings. Even though telepharmacy has a broad scope and massive utility in reducing healthcare disparities, multiple challenges have been reported in the process of implementation. In conclusion, telepharmacy is an approach to bridge the existing gaps in healthcare delivery, enabling patients to receive holistic pharmaceutical services irrespective of their geographical location. Acknowledging the merits of the approach, there is an indispensable need to address the existing challenges to enable the successful implementation and sustenance of these measures in remote communities.