Following successful trials in Brisbane, Australia’s first prescription medicine delivery app is expanding to Gladstone.
Tonic, which allows people to scan prescriptions and have medication and over-the-counter products delivered to their home or office is onboarding pharmacies across Gladstone.
“People can have a special relationship with their pharmacist, and we respect that, but sometimes when you’re sick or if you can’t get to the chemist you need an alternative,” co-founder Adam Gilmore said.
In Brisbane where the app launched, thousands of people have used the service since it launched a little over a year ago.
“A pharmacist does a phone consult before dispensing the medication and the feedback we receive is that mums particularly like it because if they have a sick child, or worse, they’re not well, they don’t need to take everyone out to get the medicine they need.”
Customer research shows women, predominantly 20 to 38 and then older men and women are the highest users.
Mr Gibson said Tonic was now looking for pharmacies to work with across North Queensland to also help them better serve their regular customers.
In another partnership, Tonic has shared technology with House Call Doctor so that after hours home visiting doctors can use the App for writing prescriptions.
“For doctors it gives them peace of mind that the patient will get their medication and for patients it means they don’t have to leave their sick bed.”
Mr Gilmore said older Australians were also increasingly using the App because it provided a reminder for scripts that have repeats.
“It means they never run short on the medication they need and that is one less thing for them and their carers to worry about.”
House Call Doctor’s General Manager James Wood said data from the Brisbane trial showed 100 per cent of people who needed a script chose to have their medication delivered.
“Coming in to the winter flu season we’re told if we’re sick to stay home and not spread it. Tonic means you can get the flu tablets, throat gargle and any other medication you need delivered,” Mr Gilmore said.
Tonic’s expansion plans include North Queensland to the Tweed.
“House Call Doctor operates in 16 areas across Queensland and we are hoping to be able to offer Tonic to patients in all of those regional and city areas in the coming months,” Mr Gilmore said.
Tonic delivery for House Call Doctor patients whose scripts have been written by a House Call Doctor are free. Standard delivery is $5.
The Tonic App can be downloaded on Google Play or the App Store. House Call Doctor operates from 6pm weekdays and across the weekend and public
holidays.
House calls can be booked by calling 13 55 66 or by going online at www.housecalldoctor.com.au or using the free app.
Original Source: 4RO AM | 6 May 2019
