The 'McCar' of pharmacies that hasn't been a success in Europe but is a hit in the US.

Banks, restaurants, supermarkets, postal services , convenience stores, and drive-in theaters. These are just a few examples of American businesses where you can shop without leaving your car.

The drive-thru, drive-in, or drive-through model originated around 1940 in the United States. This model was initially aimed at the leisure and hospitality industries, but has since spread to other sectors such as the pharmaceutical industry.

Companies like CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and Walmart Pharmacy offer drive-thrus . Additionally, countries like Canada, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates, among others, also offer this service, both in large cities and in areas with extreme climates.

However, in Europe, they only exist in a few countries , and they can be counted on one hand. In Spain, there is no record quantifying them, but Farmacia Consell in Terrassa and La Palmera in Seville have opted for drive-thru options .

"At AutoFarmacia Consell, you can buy everything you need without having to leave your vehicle . Much easier, faster, and more convenient!" they state on their website. Regarding the Seville pharmacy, this newspaper contacted them to learn more about the business without receiving any response .

For their part, sources from the General Council of Official Colleges of Pharmacists of Spain tell El Confidencial that the dispensing of medications and pharmaceutical products "goes beyond simple rapid delivery." "It is a protocolized professional pharmaceutical care service that involves asking the patient whether the medication they are requesting is for themselves or someone else, whether they are familiar with the treatment , what it is for and how to take it, whether they have any contraindications or conditions that make dispensing against it, or whether they are taking other medications," they explain.

For them, this process means offering “personalized treatment,” dedicating “sufficient time” to the patient so that the dispensing is carried out correctly and contributes to the proper use of the medication .

They also highlight the role of the community pharmacist : "Due to their accessibility, proximity, training, and experience, they participate in healthcare processes related to medications and health problems." "Their need, effectiveness, and safety depend not only on their high manufacturing quality, but also on the care provided by the pharmacists themselves," they add.

They also comment on some of the professional pharmaceutical assistance services: “ Acts of dispensing medicines , pharmaceutical indication or pharmacotherapeutic monitoring”

This is why they insist that in order to provide these services , community pharmacists need to conduct a standardized interview with the patient. "This way, they obtain the clinical information necessary for this purpose, which requires time and interaction. The development of these activities has been shown to significantly reduce medication-related problems and resolve and prevent negative medication outcomes . Furthermore, it guarantees patient equity in healthcare services and contributes to improving adherence , reducing the number of hospital admissions, increasing the effectiveness of medications , and minimizing their potential harm," they conclude.

Like Spain, the Austrian Chamber of Pharmacists does not have any registry for self-pharmacies . However, between five and ten have opened in recent years.

"In principle, dispensing should be done at the pharmacy counter , but we do not oppose this option if immediate, unrestricted personal consultation is possible and confidentiality is maintained during dispensing. This type of service can make access to the pharmacy particularly easier for customers with limited mobility. The pandemic has not favored the opening of drive-thru stores," the agency comments.

In 2008, Corner Pharmacy in Croatia opened the first pharmacy of its kind in the town of Bjelovar. "Over the years, we have listened to the needs of our patients and introduced innovations to the Croatian pharmacy. We were the first in this part of Europe to open a drive-through pharmacy , allowing patients with reduced mobility or parents with young children to pick up their medications without leaving their car, while ensuring quality pharmaceutical care," they state on their website.

In 2017, drive-thru services arrived in the country's capital, Zagreb . This was achieved through the Zagreb Pharmacy Network, a network of publicly owned pharmacies . At the time, one of the goals of this initiative was to increase the accessibility of pharmaceutical care for people with disabilities. Other cities, such as Osijek and Kukuljanovo, already offer this service.

In the Czech Republic , there is only one such pharmacy in Strakonice , in the south of the country. It opened in January 2024 and is managed by the public Nemocnice Strakonice Hospital. At the time, some profiles complained on social media because the city already had many pharmacies and only one post office.