These two establishments appear to offer the same products, but that’s not always the case.
Pharmacies have such an ingrained role in our lives that we often do not pay attention to what kind of products they offer, what we can find there and how they differ from parapharmacies.
However, pharmacies and parapharmacies are two different businesses that cover different needs.. Whether you are interested in training in the area of sanitation and health, or if you simply have an interest in the subject, we inform you the 9 differences between pharmacies and parapharmacies.
Learn the 9 differences between a pharmacy and a drugstore
A pharmacy and a drugstore have certain key differences that separate them. It is important to know the differences between them, especially when we are looking for medicines or remedies, because we can know where to go.It is important to know the differences between them, especially when we are looking for medicines or remedies, because we can know where to go.
So if you did not know what the differences are between a pharmacy and a parapharmacy, here we list the similarities and differences between the two, so you know where to go when necessary, depending on the type of products you require at any given time.
1. Basic definition
Both pharmacy and parapharmacy have different definitions. On the one hand, the pharmacy by definition is dedicated to the preparation, preservation, presentation and dispensing of medicines, by health personnel trained for this work.
It is also responsible for advising on the use of medicines within the physical establishment where this transaction takes place. On the other hand, parapharmacy parapharmacy refers to the preparation and dispensing of medicinal products, but not medicines..
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2. Type of products sold
Different products are sold in pharmacies than in drugstores. The pharmacy dispenses and recommends medications that may be over-the-counter or require a prescription, while the parapharmacy dispenses and recommends medications that may be over-the-counter or require a prescription, whereas the parapharmacy does not.In the parapharmacy, the products sold are health-related, but are not medicines.
In the parapharmacy you can find orthopedic products, first aid, dentifrices, and even alternative medicines and naturopathy. As you can understand, these are items related to health care, but they are not necessarily medicines.
3. Over-the-counter and prescription
One of the differences between a pharmacy and a parapharmacy is the way in which the products are sold. On the one hand, in the pharmacy it is necessary to have a prescription to be able to acquire certain medications, although in some places this prescription can also be provided by the pharmacy itself.
On the other hand in the parapharmacy, due to the type of products offered, a prescription is not required, although they do sell some very expensive products.Although they do sell some very specialized products that will need the control of a professional, especially if they are used for treatments or therapies.
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4. Type of service
The service of a pharmacy and a parapharmacy is different. In addition to dispensing medication, pharmacies offer advice about these products.. The people who work there, the pharmacists, have studied to have the necessary preparation for this.
Meanwhile, in a parapharmacy this type of service does not exist. It is more of a type of store where you find products related to the areas of orthopedics, dental hygiene and natural remedies, among others, which do not require specialized health advice but only a normal purchase advisory service.
5. Online sales
Online sales cannot be carried out in all cases. Due to the nature of a pharmacy’s products, they cannot be marketed online.. This is stipulated by Spanish legislation.
In the case of parapharmacy products, these can be purchased in digital stores without any problem or restriction. However, pharmacies may have a website and advertise their products, but only for information and advertising purposes.
6. Legal approval
Opening a pharmacy and a parapharmacy require different requirements. A parapharmacy needs no more approval than any other establishment selling products of any other type.
In the case of pharmacies, their establishment requires the approval of the responsible administration.. This is obviously due to the responsibility involved in the sale and recommendation of medicines.
7. How they identify themselves
The way in which pharmacies and parapharmacies present themselves is different. It is very easy to identify them by the colors they use and should use. Pharmacies will show a green cross in a very obvious way.
Parapharmacies show a blue cross. In both cases, this cross is luminous, and these colors are regularly used within the establishments themselves (green for pharmacies and blue for parapharmacies).green for pharmacies and blue for parapharmacies) for the decoration of the premises.
8. Accreditation of employees
Pharmacies and parapharmacies require different employee profiles. Due to the type of products handled and the responsibility involved in recommending and monitoring medicines, pharmacies require trained pharmacists with accredited studies.
As part of the requirements that pharmacies must comply with, they must transparently show which personnel work with them, identifying them by their license number. This requirement is not at all necessary for the operation of parapharmacies.
9. A pharmacy can be a parapharmacy
A pharmacy can include products that are also found in the parapharmacy.. But a parapharmacy could not offer medicines; if it did, it would need to comply with the relevant requirements, in which case it would become a pharmacy.
Many pharmacies have expanded their product offerings to offer a more complete range of products, which is why many of them offer orthopedics, alternative medicine and dentifrices, when these were usually handled by parapharmacies.