Online Pharmacies vs. High Street Chemists: 5 Reasons To Use An Online Pharmacy

With online pharmacies offering competitive prices, efficient delivery, a discreet service, maximum convenience, and quick access to expert medical advice, there are many compelling reasons to go digital in favour of the high street.

In our digital age — and with a host of online pharmacies popping up all over the UK — you may be wondering if you even need to physically walk into a chemist anymore, or whether your time would be better spent ordering your prescriptions online.

In this guide, we’ll explore the five primary benefits of using an online pharmacy.

Why use an online pharmacy?

1. Guaranteed discretion

With an online pharmacy, you’re guaranteed a private and discreet service. That means you can get the medical advice and treatments you need without the worry of public embarrassment — such as bumping into someone you know in the queue.

Feeling shy or embarrassed about a medical condition can often deter people from seeking advice, but it’s important not to delay or forgo treatment because you feel awkward or uncomfortable — especially as some conditions can get worse the longer they go untreated.

It's also important to remember that no medical condition is ever as embarrassing as you think it is. Some medical conditions can be stigmatised in public or not receive the attention that they deserve. It's important to remember that healthcare professionals are here to help and they have likely seen everything many times before. However, if you are struggling to seek help with your condition face-to-face, online pharmacies offer a more discreet alternative.

When you order from The Independent Pharmacy, all treatments are posted to you securely in discreet, plain packaging, so no one other than you will know what’s being delivered — even the delivery person!

2. Fast and efficient delivery

An online pharmacy can usually deliver your treatment the next working day. While many high street pharmacies are open later than other retailers, treatments can be ordered from an online pharmacy at any time, day or night, including weekends.

That means you can get your treatment faster, as you won’t have to wait for a medical appointment or for your local pharmacy to open. Health and wellbeing should be everyone’s priority, but taking the time to pick up a prescription can be hard to fit into a busy day.

When using The Independent Pharmacy, you get a fast and efficient delivery service directly to your home or workplace. All of our orders are tracked and sent out with Royal Mail in discreet packaging. We also offer free postage on orders over £40.

3. A simple and convenient ordering process

An online consultation is more streamlined than an in-store service. If you’re busy, live in a rural area, or simply prefer the digital experience, an online pharmacy can help you get advice and order the treatments you need without needing to leave the house.

For prescription-only treatments, patients simply complete a short online assessment for a medical professional to review. Once approved, your order will usually be dispatched the same working day. Over-the-counter treatments can be purchased straight away with no need for a consultation.

If you have a question, you can call The Independent Pharmacy’s support team from Monday to Friday on 0333 2200 519, or email us at [email protected] and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

4. Competitive prices

An online pharmacy can be cheaper than a high street one. If you have an NHS prescription, it costs the same to buy your treatment at an online pharmacy than it would at a local chemist. However, with free delivery and maximum convenience, using an online pharmacy can often save you time and money.

It’s often cheaper buying medicines from an online pharmacy than seeing a private GP. Plus, there’ll be no need to take time off work, and you won’t need to pay for petrol or parking for a face-to-face medical appointment.

5. Quick medical advice from experts

Ordering your medicines online is a quick way to get medical advice and treatment. Thanks to modern technology, online pharmacies are now able to connect patients with trained pharmacists and doctors at the click of a button.

The simple online consultation process allows you to easily share information and images with medical experts, making diagnosis faster and more accurate. If the online consultant feels you’d be better off seeing a doctor, they’ll advise you to do so promptly and you won’t be charged a penny.

At The Independent Pharmacy, we offer sound medical advice provided by genuine experts. Simply visit our medical guides section to find useful and accurate information about a range of conditions and treatments.

With many of our work, social and personal experiences increasingly happening online, it makes sense that the digital world is also playing a bigger role in healthcare. If you favour convenience, price, and discretion when it comes to getting your health in order, why not try getting your medication online?