MADRID, 19 (EUROPA PRESS)
Seventy-nine percent of pharmacy employees believe the pharmacy they work in is poorly or not at all digitalized, although 88 percent want to learn new tools and 70 percent are willing to dedicate between one and three hours per week to improving internal processes through technology.
This is indicated by data from the first "Report on Digitalization in Community Pharmacies," presented by Media Value and academically endorsed by the Francisco de Vitoria University (UFV). The study, conducted with 142 professionals (94 employees and 48 pharmacy owners) in 17 autonomous communities, reveals that many internal processes remain anchored in manual systems, generating demotivation, wasted time, and barriers to professional development.
Furthermore, 83 percent of pharmacy owners continue to use paper, handwritten notes, or oral communication to organize internal tasks. The report also indicates that motivation is suffering: three out of five employees admit to not feeling motivated, and 27 percent have full access to the necessary documentation to perform their work independently.
"Pharmacies are trapped in a paradox: they don't have time to figure out how to save time," explains Alberto Gómez Ureña, CEO of Media Value. Faced with this reality, solutions such as using WhatsApp to coordinate the team have become standard. Eighty percent of employees use it as their primary communication channel, despite the fact that 73 percent of owners are unaware of its legal implications, especially regarding the right to disconnect and the management of confidential data.
Despite this scenario, both owners and employees agree that digitalization represents an opportunity. Eighty-five percent of owners believe that improving their pharmacy's digital infrastructure would enhance their professional image, and two out of three believe it would allow them to offer better service to the public. Meanwhile, 70 percent of pharmacy staff see technology as a lever for personal and professional growth.
The study concludes that what's missing isn't motivation, but rather leadership, adequate tools, and clear support to initiate a process of internal transformation.
Ultimately, digitalization is seen as an opportunity to work better, learn more, provide better healthcare services, and connect and engage more efficiently with laboratories and suppliers.
