Effectiveness of E-Pharmacy Services in Managing Chronic Diseases in Rural Pakistan

Current study has assessed the effectiveness of e-Pharmacy services in chronic diseases management in rural Pakistan. E-pharmacy is playing an important role in supporting the existing healthcare infrastructure in Pakistan. However, the effectiveness of these services in rural areas and especially in chronic diseases management is largely unexplored. Therefore, the current study was designed to fill in the gap. A mixed-method approach was used and data were collected from 50 e-pharmacy users and 10 key informants. It was found that e-pharmacy has enhanced medication accessibility and adherence, particularly for the literate women aged 40-49 years. However, significant challenges persist, such as digital literacy, concerns over medication quality, and internet connectivity, impacting user satisfaction and effectiveness in chronic diseases management. Therefore, it is recommended that there is a need for digital literacy initiatives, strict regulations, user-friendly platforms, improved customer support, and infrastructure investment for the optimum e-pharmacy effectiveness in rural healthcare delivery.