Spain - a pharmacy on every road?!?

Question

we've just been to barcelona, and on almost every street corner there was a pharmacy. WHY? are the spanish constantly ill or something? (not meaning to offend any spanish people)

Answer 1

i know same in turkey just think they must self medicate more than we do rather than go to doc's

Answer 2

it might be for the british cause.sun stroke ,alcohol poisoning,sun burn,indegestionmust i go on .my mum stays in spain and most people i have seen using chemists is the good old holidaying brits.we must be one of the few countries that want to be well to go on holiday but its not been a good holiday if we feel well on the trip home.(this is personal experience )LOL

Answer 3

i dont know but we found this is greece too and la palma.

maybe because its a tourist popular area, there will be only only 1 open very late and sundays.

Answer 4

It's the same in Paris, all those flashing green +'s everywhere!!!

Answer 5

dont know why but its totally true!!

Answer 6

I don't think the doctors have dispensaries as much as they do here so more people go to the pharmacy with prescriptions, its the same in France.

Answer 7

You're right, and it's great isn't it.  The queues to see a doctor must be a lot shorter.  I have used the Farmacia a couple of times and found them very helpful and extremely efficient.  I once arrived in Spain without any of my tablets (3 types in all) but a visit to the Farmacia solved the problem.  I told them the name of the tablets and what they were for, & immediately I was sold them.   Very impressive & not expensive either.   I have just returned from another trip, during which my wife's ankles and lower legs became swollen.   One trip to the Farmacia solved the problem, with what would have been a prescription drug in the UK being supplied for a fee of just over 3 euros.  

I fear that such a system couldn't work in this country, because of the number of abusers it would attract.  But wouldn't it be great if it could?

Answer 8

I think its because like in america you have to have medical ensurance s=for the docs so they self medicate more to save money insted of goin docs

Answer 9

its for all the brits who come and get burnt on the 2nd day with sunburn and it frees up doctors aswell

Answer 10

The health service in Spain is far superior to the UK. The farmacia is where you can go and have your blood pressure checked and get any blood tests you need doing. This saves on going to the doctor and it can be done without queing in a more relaxed atmosphere. I use both the health service in Spain and I use the farmarcia. Also, if you are suffering from any of winters ailments, you just go to the farmacia and they will sort you out with the correct medication. It is an excellent service.

Answer 11

it still sounds better than the uk-where using anything medical costs you an house and car(yes its expensive)and pharmacies can be hard to find in some places, and pointless to use.

Answer 12

When I lived in Spain they were VERY handy because many things that we can pick up at the grocery in the US (bandaids, cough medicine, deoderant, even toothpaste etc.) are often only found in pharmacies in some towns.  Usually there was only the pharmasist working, so there had to be many to accomodate teh demand.  Also, usually there is a schedule of which neighborhood pharmacy is open overnight, so you can get emergency supplies *somewhere* if you need them.

Answer 13

we also have a lot of supermarkets.

Answer 14

You can get more from the pharmacist in Spain than you can here.  Stuff that you have to get on prescription here, you can get from the pharmacist in Spain.

I've never had a UK surgery with it's own dispensary, so I don't agree with that answer.