ePharmacy Users to Reach One Billion Globally by 2027

The number of ePharmacy users will reach one billion globally by 2027; increasing from 795 million in 2022, a growth of 28%, according to Juniper Research. The research identified this increase as the culmination of surging adoption resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, where consumers were unable to leave their homes and turned to receive medication through ePharmacies.

Growth will continue, as vendors focus on retaining and expanding their customer bases by refining the efficiency and simplicity that ePharmacy provides. The research predicts that consumers will continue to utilize ePharmacies as they realize the benefits they provide them, including the affordability of medication, and a wider range of choices compared to brick-and-mortar pharmacies. Furthermore, the report predicts that ePharmacy growth will be sustained by simplifying the online process. This can be achieved through the more widespread acceptance of ePrescriptions; eliminating paper copies of prescriptions.

“ePharmacy vendors have the ability to further simplify the process through the use of solutions, including consumers receiving their prescribed medication, sorted into daily pouches containing information regarding dosage, date and time to be taken,“ remarked research author Cara Malone.

The research anticipates that ePharmacy services will continue to be predominantly utilized for OTC (Over-the-Counter) medication. OTC transactions will reach 8.9 billion globally in 2027; accounting for 64% of the total global transaction value. This is compared to 5 billion prescription transactions globally in the same year. Prescription digitization will lag due to consumer concerns around delivery accuracy, timing, and missed deliveries. To allay these concerns and offset the abundance of illegitimate ePharmacies, real-time tracking and stronger regulations for ePharmacies should be priorities to secure future growth.