Boom tampons, Italians spent 30 million in November

In November, Italians spent 30 million euros on quick tampons in pharmacies. The boom came after the introduction of the mandatory Green pass to go to work. In the past month, approximately one million tampons were administered in pharmacies, according to numbers provided by Iqvia, a global provider of data, analysis, consulting and innovative technologies in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. In the last year there has been a steady growth up to take-off with the introduction of the Green pass obligation in the workplace. In January 2021 – reports Iqvia – 148 thousand antigenic swabs were sold in pharmacies; in September, before the compulsory green certificate was required, there were 586 thousand for a total of 17.7 million euros, while with the introduction of the Green pass in October the number increased to 844 thousand, to reach, in November, 1,058. 000 units for a value of almost 30 million euros The region in which the most valued tampons were sold in pharmacies in November was Piedmont for a total of 8.18 million euros, followed at a distance by Sicily (4, 13 million euros) and Campania (3.94 million euros). Lazio follows with a value of 3.25 million euros. Lombardy is not among the first, which in November recorded sales of antigenic tampons for a value of 1.75 million euros. According to Iqvia at the moment there are about 60% of pharmacies that provide this service in Italy. “The service pharmacy has had a big boost from the pandemic, thanks also to the proactivity of pharmacists – said Sergio Liberatore, CEO of Iqvia Italy.” However, the service alone is not economically sustainable for a pharmacist, even if the services are important loyalty tools “. Some pharmacies, particularly the larger ones, have been able to organize the ‘tamponade’ service in external spaces or through separate entrances, others with closed pharmacies, this has facilitated both the service and the regular sale But it is not only the availability of space, but also the use of digital technology that distinguishes ‘organized’ pharmacies, that is, the establishments that have equipped themselves to offer antigenic products without penalizing the pharmacy’s sales activities.