Seasonal pharmacy opening soon in Condado de Alhama Golf Resort

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The "Botiquín de farmacia" pharmacy service in Condado de Alhama will save a round trip journey of 24 km

The Condado de Alhama urbanisation will soon have a Botiquín de Farmacia service that will facilitate the sale and provision of medicines to residents and holidaymakers, without having the need to make a round-trip journey of approximately 24 kilometres to the Camposol chemist's or 32 kilometres to the nearest in Alhama de Murcia.

The Condado de Alhama chemist's has a projected opening date for Wednesday June 21, 2023.

A Botiquín is a format for dispensing medicines where there is a public demand but not a large enough stable population to make a fully commercial pharmacy viable. In such cases the local council can apply to the appropriate authorities for permission to set  one up and while the Council provides the land or premises the Official College of Pharmacists of the Region of Murcia appoints a pharmacist within the municipality to run the service, provide staff and supply the medications required with opening hours varying as requirements dictate.

In the case of Condado the process has taken some time: the Council of Alhama de Murcia originally approved the request for this service for the urbanisation in 2017. Alhama Councillor for Health, Rosa Sánchez explains "A Botiquín de Farmacia can be granted to population centres that exceed 300 inhabitants and that have the nearest pharmacy over three kilometres away". The request to the regional ministry of Health was eventually formalised in 2021.

The Botiquín is situated on Bulevar Central de Las Cañadas, just north of the roundabout that serves Al-Kasar Commercial Centre and the La Isla residential area. The pharmacist appointed is Luis Montalbán Soler, who has an existing pharmacy on Calle Fuente del Ral opposite Mercadona supermarket in Alhama de Murcia.

Under the terms of the agreement, the chemist's will year-round open for a minimum of 15 hours a week. In the summer season, the opening times could increase to more than 40 hours including Saturdays.

The initial opening times are:

• Monday to Friday: 10am-2pm and 5.30pm-8.30pm
• Saturdays: 10am-2pm

In addition to prescription medications, the pharmacy will also be able to provide painkillers and other over-the-counter medications that are currently not available elsewhere in the urbanisation.

For more local news, events and other information go to the home page of Condado Today.