Global trends affecting the retail pharmacy industry in the next 5-7 Essay

Global trends affecting the retail pharmacy industry in the next 5-7 years - Essay Example Online merchants have been growing in number as well. The retail pharmacy industry must take advantage of websites in order to keep up with the technology. These two trends will impact the retail pharmacy industry within the next five to seven years. The first trend of more one on one consultation is due to the second trend of more patients. Doctors are becoming overwhelmed by the field of geriatrics. More and more elderly patients are seeking medical care, and thus prescriptions and other over the counter medicine. Doctors are seeing as many patients possible, leaving the prescription counseling to the retail pharmacy industry. Since doctors are busy, appointments take a month or more to receive. Thus elderly patients are coming to pharmacists with questions on routine nutrition, over the counter medicines, and common illnesses. The retail pharmacy industry is becoming the first stop for patients, instead of the doctor’s office. Thus more one on one consultation would be routinely done daily. If the rise in consultations continues, the need for more retail pharmacy industry consultants and pharmacists will also rise. This would mean more training for retail pharmacy industry jobs. That would create a need for teachers, curriculum, and students relating to the retail pharmacy industry. It would also be necessary to recruit individuals interested in this type of work field. A lack of personnel in the retail pharmacy industry could hurt the industry. In order to take advantage of the billion-trillion dollar need, personnel must be interested and trained for the retail pharmacy industry. Online services are showing up for most major retail pharmacies. These online services can be convenient. Doctors can place prescriptions on secure websites. Customers can transfer existing prescriptions. Consultants are made available online. This is through live consultants and