Alphega Pharmacy Launch Patient App with Healthera

Alphega Pharmacy has launched a new app, developed in conjunction with Healthera for its network of over 1,000 pharmacy members. The patient-facing app, which is available to download to any mobile device, is designed with the patient in mind, as more and more people turn to digital solutions to fulfil their prescriptions and other healthcare service requirements.

The Alphega Pharmacy app uses the UK‟s market leading technology platform for patients and pharmacies. The app offers a seamless digital patient experience, enabling Alphega Pharmacy members to compete with the ever growing list of competitors who offer a digital service for prescription ordering.

The impact of COVID-19 has changed shopper habits with more and more people now using digital channels to shop online or engage with their healthcare services. Shoppers have made on average 51% fewer trips to the high street post-lockdown than they made in the weeks pre-lockdown*. All four big online pharmacy chains (Boots, Well, Echo, Pharmacy2U), have seen significant increases in electronic prescription service (EPS) items claimed in the period of March to May 2020**.

The app provides the Alphega Pharmacy member with a turn-key solution to support them in the ever changing landscape of independent pharmacy and the members also receive preferred rates because they are part of the Alphega Pharmacy network.

The key features of the app include:

• Repeat Prescription Ordering – immediate access to over 8,000 GP surgeries (IM1 integration, NHS Email and Fax) for patient initiated ordering.
• NHS Email ordering - available for patients in Wales or Scotland, or without an NHS Linkage Key.
• Pharmacy chat – speak directly with customers through your online portal built into the app.
• Service booking – patients are able to view the NHS and Private Services offered by the pharmacy and book appointments.
• Broadcasting – send notifications / messages to all customers who use the app.

Other features include: online payments, “Carer‟ mode allowing family members to manage medicines for their relatives, prescription tracking, real time patient messaging and co-branding opportunities to help re-inforce loyalty.

Raj Nutan, Head of Alphega Pharmacy UK said: “This is a great opportunity for our members to offer a first class digital experience to their patients. The app provides a leading digital customer service offering to really drive retention, cultivate loyalty and grow additional revenue. Healthera are market leaders in this field and were an obvious choice for us to work with in developing the Alphega Pharmacy App. We are very excited to see how the app can really support our members and their patients.”

Quintus Liu, Chairman and CEO of Healthera said: “We are very happy to be working with Alphega Pharmacy as partners on this project. It’s great to see that Alphega Pharmacy realise the huge benefits of offering the patient app to their members, therefore driving the digital agenda in the field of independent pharmacy. As a business we have seen how the app can not only help support pharmacies drive revenue through dispensing volume growth, but also significant time savings in pharmacy of an average of around 105.5 hours per year via Rx orders going through the app rather than on the phone, emails or tokens***”

To find out more about the patient app, or about how Alphega Pharmacy can help Independent Pharmacy businesses call: 0203 044 8969 or email: membersupport@alphega-pharmacy.co.uk

*Worldpanel + Total Actual Trips-Daily-data to 19th April 2020

**NHS Digital EPS Data (May 2020) (https://digital.nhs.uk/services/electronic-prescription-service/statistics ) / https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news/rising-demand-causes-well-close-online-prescriptions-registrations?cid=ENL-DAILY-LN-TOPSTORY-2020-0504

*** Based on a survey conducted by Healthera in 2019, where University researchers conducted thorough studies on prescription related administration in a selected few Healthera pharmacies.