S'pore hospital pharmacy goes online

SINGAPORE--It is bad enough to feel under the weather, but to have to join a queue to get medicine while you are sick feels worse. Now, however, sick people can opt to go online rather than stand in line for their drugs.

The Changi General Hospital has an online pharmacy, which lets patients and their care-givers buy over-the counter medicines, surgical products and other medical care products through the Internet, which will be delivered.

""="" class="c-regularLink" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Mypharmacy.com.sg is aimed at making life easier for these patients and their care-givers, as they will be able to order these products and have them delivered to their home or office at a time of their choice," CGH pharmacy manager Joanna Wong told Computer Times.

Since its soft launch three months ago, the site has been processing an average of 25 orders a month, worth about S$150 (US$82.55) each. These orders are mostly for milk feeds for the elderly, adult diapers and other dressings. However, even bulky items like wheelchairs can be got online.

To use mypharmacy.com, users first have to register, providing their userID and delivery address. They can specify when, between 9am and 10pm, they want the good delivered. Delivery will take place within two working days.

There is a S$5 (US$2.75) delivery charge for pruchases under S$70 (US$38.52), which is waived for larger buys. Payment can be made via credit card on the site, or by cash or check on delivery.

Long term patients can have their prescriptions sent to them through the site, which cost the hospital "below S$50,000 (US$27,517)" to set up. Prices are said to be competitive, and there a loyalty scheme for frequent users.

CGH has more plans for its pharmacy. "Our next phase is integrating the e-pharmacy with the hospital's backend system over the next few months, including the inventory and procurement system to make the e-pharmacy even more efficient," Wong promised.