Pharmacy teleconsultation: how it works, comparison and alternatives

How does a pharmacy teleconsultation work?

Teleconsultation in a pharmacy refers to a medical consultation carried out remotely, from a pharmacy fitted with a teleconsultation device (a booth, kiosk or dedicated space). In practice, the patient does not consult with a doctor present in the pharmacy: they exchange with a healthcare professional by video call. The French health insurance (Assurance Maladie) also states that the pharmacist may assist with the teleconsultation, look after the equipment, and organise the consultation and contact with the doctor. Besides in-pharmacy teleconsultation, patients can also opt for an online consultation from the comfort of their own home. These solutions follow a simple logic: making access to care easier by allowing a quick medical opinion, while keeping a secure framework. What sets a consultation carried out at home from a computer or smartphone apart from a pharmacy teleconsultation is above all the ability to be assisted by another healthcare professional, in particular the pharmacist. Finally, the patient also benefits from a specifically arranged environment, with equipment designed for teleconsultation.

Pharmacy teleconsultation, booth, console: what are the differences?

In everyday language, people may refer indifferently to a pharmacy teleconsultation booth, a teleconsultation kiosk in a pharmacy, or even a console. All these terms broadly refer to devices that allow a remote consultation with a doctor. From an institutional standpoint, the HAS (Haute Autorité de Santé, the French National Authority for Health) more broadly recommends suitable environmental conditions for carrying out teleconsultations, such as a pharmacy or a telemedicine booth. The main difference therefore concerns how the space is set up for teleconsultation. A booth is generally an enclosed space that offers greater privacy. A teleconsultation kiosk most often refers to a technical device installed in the pharmacy. Lastly, a console may refer, depending on the provider, to the equipment or the interface used to connect the patient to the general practitioner. In every case, the goal remains the same: to offer an environment suited to teleconsultation, guarantee a confidential medical conversation, and, depending on the device, offer connected equipment to transmit measurements (blood pressure, temperature, etc.).

Comparison: Feeli vs Medadom vs Tessan vs Doctolib

If you are looking for a pharmacy teleconsultation solution, several options exist, but not all platforms meet the same need. For example, some rely on a device installed in a pharmacy; others let you book an online appointment with a doctor or book a slot in an equipped pharmacy.

  •  Feeli, for its part, offers a different approach and stands out with a direct approach: patients consult remotely, without an appointment, without depending on a partner pharmacy, while still being able to obtain an online prescription if the doctor considers it necessary. For many users, this is the smoothest option for reaching a doctor online, without having to travel.

  •  Medadom follows a logic that stays very close to the ground. The company has a network of partner pharmacies and in-pharmacy teleconsultation spaces. This solution mainly suits patients who want to consult from a pharmacy near them, with the possibility of on-site support. The platform lists a teleconsultation with a general practitioner at a price of €25, sector-1 conventioned, with no fee excess and third-party payment possible depending on the situation.

  •  Tessan puts particular emphasis on its pricing and reimbursement. A teleconsultation with a general practitioner is charged at €25 (indicative price), with cover announced by the Assurance Maladie and complementary health insurers depending on cover conditions. Tessan also highlights its booths equipped with connected medical devices, which allow certain tests to be carried out on the spot.

  •  Lastly, Doctolib mainly plays a role in booking appointments or local referral. The platform lets you locate and book certain assisted in-pharmacy teleconsultation devices, which can be useful for quickly finding an equipped pharmacy near you. Consulting doctors is also possible on the platform.

Finally, reviews of pharmacy teleconsultation show that these devices are mainly used to obtain a medical opinion quickly, particularly when in-office waiting times are longer.

Feeli: a practical alternative to pharmacy teleconsultation

The main benefit of Feeli is simple: you can consult a doctor without an appointment directly and obtain an electronic prescription if necessary, without travelling to a pharmacy. This is a significant advantage if your priority is speed, simplicity and immediate access to a healthcare professional. Here are the main benefits of Feeli:

  •  Access a medical consultation without an appointment: consulting a GP or a specialist is possible without waiting for a pharmacy slot and without travelling.

  •  Consult at any time, 24/7: you can access a teleconsultation at any time, including in the evening, at weekends or on public holidays.

  •  Benefit from fast care: Feeli offers a consultation with a general practitioner in under 2 hours, with an estimated average wait of 15 minutes.

  •  Get an electronic prescription: depending on the practitioner's diagnosis, you can receive a digital prescription, accessible at any time from a secure patient area.

  •  Consult for your everyday needs:

  •   Infections: gastroenteritis, sore throat, cold, cystitis, and other conditions.

  •   Dermatology: acne, eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions.

  •   Follow-up: prescription renewal, quick medical opinion, dermatology teleconsultation…

In short, Feeli serves the same purpose as pharmacy teleconsultation, with the main advantage of not having to wait for a slot at the pharmacy. Depending on your needs, you can obtain a suitable treatment at the end of the teleconsultation, which you then simply need to collect from a pharmacy. If you would rather avoid looking for an equipped pharmacy, Feeli lets you consult a doctor online directly, without an appointment, with an electronic prescription if necessary