The rural pharmacy: much more than just medicine
In the new episode of our podcast “Connecting the RURAL to the world”, Pedro Abad, CEO of Asteo Red Neutra, speaks with a guest who personifies the healthcare vocation in rural environments: Elena Amaro, head of institutional relations at SEFAR (Spanish Society of Rural Pharmacies).
Throughout the interview, they delve into the critical importance of these pharmacies for the survival of villages, the challenges of generational succession, and how technology has become an indispensable ally for health in sparsely populated Spain.
What is an essential rural pharmacy?
We often talk about rural pharmacy in general terms, but SEFAR makes an important distinction based on demographics and need. A pharmacy in a large town is not the same as one in a small village where the pharmacist is the only healthcare professional available 24/7.
Elena Amaro provides us with exact data on the current situation in Spain:
“In populations of fewer than 5,000 inhabitants, there are 4,400 or 4,200 pharmacies. SEFAR focuses primarily on the essential rural pharmacy, which we consider to be those in populations of fewer than a thousand; there are about 2,100 of them, representing 20% of the total. They are not many because there are a total of 22,000 pharmacies, but for us, it is the essential pharmacy, the rural pharmacy.”
The pharmacist as a cornerstone and “family”
One of the most moving points of the episode is the description of the human bond. In rural environments, the pharmacy is not just a dispensary; it is the gateway to the healthcare system and, often, a center for emotional and social support. Proximity removes the barriers between professional and patient.
As Elena explains, the pharmacist’s role goes far beyond dispensing:
“The pharmacist is there 24/7 and knows the neighbors. So, many times before going to the doctor, they come into the pharmacy to tell us what is happening to them. Of course, that connection—I don’t know if it’s connection, solidarity, or empathy that you have with people—is often what leads the patient to go to the doctor.”
This relationship transcends the professional, making the pharmacist part of the community’s intimate fabric:
“You become a bit like family to your patients, and your patients become a bit like family to you.”
Challenges: Economic viability and generational succession
The sector faces significant challenges. The economic sustainability of these small pharmacies and the lack of generational succession are the major concerns. Elena points out that the problem is not that the profession is unattractive, but that it is unknown to new graduates.
“I am sure that anyone who does an internship in a rural pharmacy or goes to a rural pharmacy and experiences it will fall in love because it is entirely vocational.”
However, vocation needs to be accompanied by sustainability. SEFAR advocates for models that, as seen in other European countries, compensate for the healthcare services provided by these essential pharmacies:
“Economic viability is the stumbling block. The issue is that, in the end, it’s about vocation. And vocation and economy… they don’t always go hand in hand.”
Technology and connectivity: Allies against isolation
At Asteo Red Neutra, we know that connectivity is a means to improve people’s lives. In the case of rural pharmacy, technology breaks professional isolation and allows for the implementation of advanced telemedicine services, such as the Telémaco project or the new initiatives with Semergen (SEMERGEN (Spanish Society of Primary Care Physicians)) that Elena mentions in the podcast.
Technology allows the rural pharmacist to stay connected, receive training, and offer better services regardless of geographical location:
“We must take advantage of technology for the good things.”
And she adds regarding the capacity for professional development in rural settings thanks to the network:
“If you have the technology, you can be connected to anything and you can develop the case. Well, it’s like everything. It’s a matter of will.”
An invitation to future pharmacists
The episode closes with a message of optimism and a clear invitation to students and new Pharmacy graduates to give the rural world a chance, an environment where quality of life and professional quality can go hand in hand.
“Try it. It has its good and bad points, like all jobs, obviously. But I believe that if you weigh them up, the good wins out.”
🎧 Don’t miss the full episode of “Connecting the RURAL to the world,” which you can watch and/or listen to on YouTube and Spotify to discover why the rural pharmacy is the heart of our villages.
