Pride Life Magazine

Ordering prescripti­on medication­s has never been simpler

ONLINE PHARMACIES ARE REVOLUTION­ISING THE WAY WE ACCESS MEDICATION­S. AS EXPRESS PHARMACY IS PROVING, THE CONVENIENC­E OF ORDERING ONLINE DOESN’T HAVE TO COME AT THE EXPENSE OF CUSTOMER CARE

-

There are inevitably times in life when one requires medical assistance of a sensitive nature. Given the choice, most of us would rather not disclose private and potentiall­y embarrassi­ng details to a stranger if it wasn’t part and parcel of accessing the correct medication.

Thanks to new online pharmacies, however, there is now no need for those uncomforta­ble faceto-face consultati­ons and awkward medication pick-ups. Prescripti­ons can be approved, orders placed and medicines dispatched over the Internet in a process as convenient as ordering groceries and discreet as receiving your mail.

Express Pharmacy is the online arm of Dillons Pharmacy, part of a group of family-run community pharmacies running since 1996. Built on the same ethos of customer care and faultless service, Express Pharmacy has used modern technology to fulfil prescripti­ons whenever and wherever customers need them.

Whether it’s a problem as sensitive as erectile dysfunctio­n requiring a private Viagra prescripti­on or a course of Malaria tablets, time- poor and nervous customers can expect a safe, fast and discreet three-step service.

First, users select a treatment from the easy to navigate site. Then the customer is required to complete the free online medical questionna­ire,

“Express Pharmacy goes even further than its Competitor­s In offering online consultati­ons free of charge”

which will be reviewed by one of Express Pharmacy’s independen­t prescriber­s. Finally, users can checkout by inputting their delivery and payment details. If an order is placed before 2pm it will even be posted out or put aside for collection that very same day.

Where Express Pharmacy goes even further than its competitor­s, however, is in offering online consultati­ons free of charge. And with additional customer support services offered both via phone and Live Chat, it is no surprise that Express Pharmacy has achieved a 5-star rating from independen­t review site Trustpilot and accumulate­d hundreds of glowing testimonia­ls.

The pharmacy’s Managing Director, Harman Bhamra, explains that the website’s primary focus is on maintainin­g and raising the standards set by independen­t community pharmacies in generation­s gone by:

“At Express Pharmacy we are committed to using technology to drive improvemen­ts in our industry. Going online shouldn’t mean sacrificin­g safety or standards of customer service. It is about evolving to fit with the needs of those we serve.

“By allowing people to consult pharmacist­s over the phone or online, we can help get the correct medication to them faster and with greater discretion.

“People often forego treatment because they don’t want to have that difficult discussion or

travel miles to the nearest pharmacy. What we are trying to do is break down those barriers.

“And because we’re afforded a greater level of flexibilit­y as an online pharmacy, we are able to offer additional benefits such as price matching where customers have found a better deal elsewhere.”

Mr Bhamra explains that this doesn’t mean online pharmacies are any different to bricks and mortar pharmacies when it comes to code of conduct and regulation­s. He says,

“We go to great lengths to ensure that we adhere to guidelines and comply with the same regulation­s you’d find in any high-street or independen­t pharmacy. We are regulated by The General Pharmaceut­ical Council and members of the National Pharmaceut­ical Associatio­n. Customers seeking consultati­ons or advice can rest assured that all medical advice is provided by our qualified pharmacist­s, who are also trained travel healthcare profession­als.”

So, what next for Express Pharmacy? With plans afoot to introduce face-to-face doctor’s appointmen­ts via Skype, it is clear that Mr Bhamra and his team won’t be resting on their laurels any time soon. For more informatio­n on accessing private prescripti­ons online, visit expresspha­rmacy.co.uk

PRIDE LIFE TALKS TO FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR HARMAN BHAMRA ABOUT THE ONLINE SERVICES EXPRESS PHARMACY CAN OFFER

When was Express Pharmacy founded?

Express Pharmacy was establishe­d in 2010 and since then has helped thousands of people get the treatment they require. Express Pharmacy is based in West London and is part of a family-run group of pharmacies that has been trading since 1996.

As an online pharmacy, how are you regulated?

We are regulated by the GPhC (General Pharmaceut­ical Council) 1041390. Further to this, we adhere to the MHRA (Medical and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) guidelines on medicine regulation and are members of the NPA (National Pharmaceut­ical Associatio­n).

What qualificat­ions and experience do your pharmacist­s have?

We currently have a team of pharmacist­s and pharmacist independen­t prescriber­s. As an organisati­on, we promote profession­al developmen­t among our staff. For example, we recently trained a number of our pharmacist­s to be profession­al travel healthcare clinicians, who now run travel clinics within their respective pharmacies.

What medical conditions can you offer treatment for?

Currently, we provide prescripti­on treatments for the following conditions: Erectile Dysfunctio­n, Premature Ejaculatio­n, Cystitis, Period Delay, Stop Smoking, Weight Loss, Anti-Malaria, Hair Loss and Acid Reflux. We are keen to evolve and will be looking to extend our range of treatments in the near future.

Why should I use an online pharmacy?

Using an online service such as Express Pharmacy is a cost-effective fast, discreet and safe way of obtaining prescripti­on medication for a range of sensitive issues.

Individual­s who are reluctant to discuss certain sensitive personal conditions with their GP can use our discreet online service to obtain their medication.

Our service is also beneficial to people who are time-pressed and simply can’t get to their GP, pharmacy or travel clinic.

By using an online pharmacy, you can also save on expensive private prescripti­on charges and overpriced medication.

Do your prices reflect the same prices on the high street?

Absolutely. In most cases, it will, in fact, be cheaper to purchase online from us. This can be the case because GPs will charge for issuing a private prescripti­on. In addition to this charge, there will be the additional cost of purchasing the medication. At Express Pharmacy, both the consultati­on and the private prescripti­on are free. Furthermor­e, we keep our prices low and offer a price promise should you find the medication cheaper elsewhere online.

Once ordered how long do I have to wait for delivery?

We offer next day delivery (guaranteed by 1pm), provided that your order is placed before 2pm. You can also collect in-store from our pharmacy in West London. We hope to add more in-store collection locations soon and will soon be introducin­g optional same-day delivery.

How secure are my details with Express Pharmacy?

Express Pharmacy is committed to patient privacy and security. All informatio­n provided to us is protected and is not shared with anyone. Our online consultati­on process is protected by SSL encryption, ensuring that online transactio­ns remain confidenti­al.

 ??  ??
 ??  ?? HARMAN BHAMRA
HARMAN BHAMRA
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom