Vending machines are not a panacea, they certainly will not solve all problems , but they will solve some of them. This was stated by Prof. Andrey Chorbanov from "There is such a people" in the studio of "The Day ON AIR".
"Every television advertises drugs, supplements, vitamins. Half of the ads are for such funds, which shows that pharmacy is a business. Very serious business. There is nothing wrong with that if this business reaches everyone. Vending machines solve part of this problem, Prof. Chorbanov told Bulgaria ON AIR.
One of the main problems that vending machines can address is the lack of pharmacies in small towns. Prof. Chorbanov noted that there is not a single pharmacy in 33 municipalities of Bulgaria. In addition, over 2.5 million Bulgarians live without access to 24-hour pharmacies, which is a serious problem in emergencies.
"If your child has a fever at night, you call the general practitioner and he advises you to buy the most basic thing - Analgin, Nurofen or whatever, you just have nowhere to buy it,'' he added. .
Opening a pharmacy is a significantly expensive investment, especially in smaller villages and remote regions. Prof. Chorbanov points out that this activity is not profitable, since the maintenance of a pharmacy requires significant costs for personnel, equipment and inventory. Moreover, 24-hour pharmacies are considered a social activity and rarely make a profit. Unlike pharmacies, vending machines have significantly lower installation and maintenance costs.
The problem of access to basic drugs such as analgin, aspirin and nurofen can be solved with vending machines that will offer these products in places where there are no pharmacies. Chorbanov notes that the purchase of such drugs usually does not require a consultation with a pharmacist, as they are widely known and easy to use.
"In Canada, drugs are delivered by mail, the post office plays the role of a pharmacy. In the US, these drugs are bought from supermarkets, convenience stores and drugstores. There are other wonderful examples in Western Europe," pointed out Prof. Chorbanov.
One of the main arguments against drug vending machines has to do with security. Some critics point out that these machines can pose a risk, especially if a child abuses unsupervised medication. However, Chorbanov noted that many people keep their medicines at home without special security measures, so the risk is no greater than that of storing medicines in homes.