In Thailand, there can be three pharmacies within a 50-meter radius. Apparently, they’re free to set up. They’re often tiny pharmacies located on the ground floor of a house. And most often, there’s only one pharmacist working there. There’s no robot to sort the medications in the stockroom, but it seems the pharmacists always find an effective remedy for your problem.

It’s like this in all Southeast Asian countries. In Vietnam, in one city, I counted up to 15 pharmacies in a 100-meter street. They were all next to each other. At least they’re easy to find.

Some pharmacies are larger and have several pharmacists working there, sometimes even a doctor who can perform simple medical examinations on site.
Recently, my wife wanted medication for itchy hands. Apparently, she had an allergy to a soap. The doctor wasn’t there. The pharmacist took photos of her hands and texted them to the doctor, who made a diagnosis and prescribed medications and ointments that already seem to be effective.

The medicines are always delivered in the exact quantity for the treatment, in small sachets.