Mobile Pharmacy in Retirement Homes as a Business Opportunity

In the last few decades, a key social change has occurred in all countries around the world. The average life expectancy of people has increased considerably, accompanied by a significant decline in birth rates. On the basis of this, they wanted to determine the viability of establishing a new company. In doing so, they also prepared a business plan with which they verified our hypothesis about the viability of establishing such a company.

Problem

In the last few decades, a key social change has occurred in all countries around the world. The average life expectancy of people has increased considerably, accompanied by a significant decline in birth rates. The decrease in birth rates and the extension of life expectancy, primarily due to improvements in living standards and health conditions, have long-term implications reflected in changes to the age structure of the population.

We understand ageing as both a challenge and an opportunity. In the diploma thesis, they wanted to present a particular segment of entrepreneurship – the sale of medicines and intermediation in pharmacy activities, and to study and research the state of supply and competitiveness in this market in Maribor and the surrounding area. They focused on the supply in homes for the elderly, conducted an analysis in an entrepreneurial manner, and demonstrated the importance and need for a new activity.

Results

On the basis of this, they then wanted to determine the viability of establishing a new company. In doing so, they also prepared a business plan with which they verified our hypothesis about the viability of establishing such a company. With a business plan, we can obtain a sense, in a fairly simple and risk-free manner, of the extent to which a particular business idea is feasible in the actual market as well.

In life, we often act completely routinely, without thinking, acting solely out of daily habit. Such a way of life is of course necessary, as we thus do not overburden our brain cells with details. However, if we want to find a hitherto undiscovered or, better said, unrecognised business niche, we must step outside the framework of these habits and, in everyday conversation over coffee, whilst reading a book, newspaper or internet article, on a walk in nature or in the urban hustle and bustle, recognise a human need that could be satisfied with a new product or service.

People themselves bear the responsibility for maintaining their health, which is why a healthy lifestyle is a complex manifestation of more or less interconnected and recurring specific behaviours of a person in certain living conditions. Healthy self-respect and positive self-evaluation are prerequisites for an individual to also take responsibility for their own health. Those who value themselves do not wish to harm themselves.

The decision for health is connected with fundamental questions of dealing with oneself, with a sense of one's own worth, which enables or does not enable a person to take time for themselves and to take responsibility for themselves and share it with other people with whom they live. Definitions of health remind us how important it is to be in harmony. "Health is their greatest value, it is the absence of disease and harmony in physical, mental, emotional, personal and spiritual functioning, or it is a harmonious relationship between body and mind in harmony with the environment" (Shapiro, 1994).

We wish for many things, but health is what gives life grandeur and richness. The interest and enthusiasm for working in a pharmacy was present in the holder of the business idea since childhood, and helping people in distress gives her strength and spiritual joy every day. In these few years, it has been recognised that a step further could be taken in this business.

Inspiration for a promising business can be found in a wide variety of everyday situations. All that is needed is to be attentive to simple and self-evident things and to recognise our business opportunity in them, which is why the decision was also made to acquire additional education as a commercial specialist. Whilst acquiring additional education at the Academia Institute of Technology for commercial specialists, a great deal of new knowledge was gained, and therefore the logical decision was to use all the knowledge in the diploma thesis, which is the conclusion of the studies.

In the diploma, the facts about the ageing of the population and the needs in homes for the elderly for additional supply of medicines are revealed in detail. They realised that their assumptions were true, and thus the wish that was present already upon entering the school can be fulfilled. Something has been done that can benefit the holder of the business idea in the long term as a new form of employment and at the same time improve conditions in the market, which needs such a service.

It is hoped that it will be possible to implement the idea in practice one day and thereby enhance and improve the living conditions in homes for elderly citizens.