Local drugstores in many parts of the world are disappearing, victims of rising costs and growing competition from online retailers. While Switzerland has so far escaped unscathed, pressure for change is mounting. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox People in Switzerland are used to going to their local pharmacy not just to pick up or buy medicine but for health advice for common ailments from skin rashes to digestive issues. In contrast to the United States, where pharmacies are embedded in retail shops selling candy and greetings cards, Swiss pharmacies are more like medical establishments. Regardless of these differences, brick-and-mortar pharmacies have been essential parts of healthcare systems. But in many countries, they are in crisis. Costs have gone up for everything from energy to staffing, rising healthcare spending has patients, insurers, and health authorities looking for ways to save money, while online retailers are grabbing a larger share of ...
