In many small towns, the pharmacy represents much more than a healthcare establishment. It is an essential service and one of the closest points of contact between residents and the healthcare system.

In this episode of "Conectando el RURAL al mundo", the podcast by Asteo Red Neutra, a company owned by Rurix, Pedro Abad talks with Elena Amaro, Head of Institutional Relations at SEFAR, about the reality of Spanish rural pharmacies.

SEFAR pays special attention to the so-called essential rural pharmacies, located in towns with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants. As Elena explains during the conversation, there are around 2,100 establishments of this type in Spain.

Their future faces challenges such as economic viability and generational renewal, but new opportunities are also emerging thanks to digitalization.

Connectivity allows access to training, improves coordination among professionals, and boosts new services related to telemedicine and remote healthcare.

In territories with a dispersed population, connecting villages also means making it easier for essential services like the pharmacy to evolve and remain close to those who need them.

Listen to the full episode on YouTube and Spotify.