The Spanish Society of Clinical, Family and Community Pharmacy position statement on telepharmacy: telepharmaceutical care (TPC)

Abstract

The new information and communication technologies (ICT) have been evolving for many years, but the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation of society. In the healthcare field, new activities have emerged and terms such as telemedicine, telecare and teleconsultation are becoming common. They are undoubtedly a step forward, but they risk dehumanizing the contact between healthcare providers and patients. In the pharmacy- field, Telepharmacy has emerged with undeniable logistical and commercial connotations. The preferred term of the Spanish Society of Clinical, Family and Community Pharmacy is Telepharmaceutical care (TPC) which defines it as the practice of Pharmaceutical Care using ICT in order to complement the face-to face required by the patient. TPC includes the remote provision of some community pharmacy services (CPS). TPC should help the community pharmacist to provide CPS, thus improving clinical pharmaceutical practice without the dehumanizing effects that the indiscriminate application of ICT can have.