One year after the authorization of the online sale of medicines, 30% of French people questioned in a survey say they are ready to buy on the net. Only 4% of them have already taken the plunge.
At the end of 2012, the Competition Authority declared itself in favor of the sale of drugs on the Internet. According to her, this measure would allow consumers “to benefit from more attractive prices. But today, five months after the entry into force of the decree governing this trade, it is clear that the economic argument is still struggling to convince a majority of French people.
Less than 1 in 3 French people ready to buy on the internet
Indeed, according to the PHR / IFOP study conducted by the PHR group (group of pharmacists representing 11% of pharmacies in France) only 30% of French people questioned say they are ready to buy their drugs online. However, this figure has increased sharply since this proportion was only 13% in 2012.
And to explain this slight craze, the French mention two main advantages: practicality and price (42% for each of these items). The superiority of the offer is also put forward by 8% of respondents.
The big gap between intention and practice
Moreover, as is often the case, from words to deeds, the gap is large. Thus, only 4% of respondents have already tried the experience of buying drugs on the net. To explain this mistrust in practice, 38% of respondents indicated that one of the main obstacles to buying medicines online is the lack of advice from the pharmacist.
Finally, 57% of French people say they do not have enough confidence to take the plunge. In their defense, it must be admitted that the effect on prices is undoubtedly not yet perceptible. The rural family consumer association published in December the results of its drug price observatory. And the arrival of the sale of drugs on the Internet did not bring competition into play. The shipping costs would have the effect of aligning, on average, the price of drugs sold on the Internet and those sold in pharmacies. In addition, selling online is not yet very secure. At the beginning of August 2013, barely a month after the entry into force of the decree governing the sale of drugs on the web, more than 40 illegal sites had already been identified. This figure even exceeded 100 at the end of August, according to information from the Order of Pharmacists.
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