An American man living in Spain has revealed one of his favorite culture shocks: visiting a pharmacy.
In one of his recent TikToks, chef and author Jeremy Scheck takes viewers inside a pharmacy in Madrid as he goes over some of the biggest differences between a store in Europe and one in the United States.
First, he says that the work of a pharmacist is different in both countries, and “Whom Spain There are no medications you can get on your own, not even Advil.
He then highlights how things are presented differently and details that the type of products stored is not the same.
The gourmet explains that in Spanish pharmacies, the shelves are filled with “mainly skin care products, perfumes, special shampoos and mouthwashes.”
In one of his recent TikToks, chef and author Jeremy Scheck takes viewers inside a pharmacy in Madrid and compares it to what they find in the United States.
These are mostly high-end brands, so if you want “everyday brands like Dove or Crest,” you’ll have to make a separate trip to the supermarket.
When it comes to receiving recipes, Jeremy also describes some of the things he has noticed during his time in Spain.
He reveals: ‘The prescriptions are also very different because they usually don’t put anything in a pill bottle.
“It’s just written, that’s why they prescribe you a whole box.”
Jeremy says that because pharmacists “don’t count pills all day,” customer service is better and individual consultations are available.
The content creator notes that he even knows his pharmacist, Soledad, by name.
Offering an example of how it has provided her with a personalised service, she says: ‘When I moved here, the climate is much drier, my skincare routine wasn’t working for me.
‘So she helped design a new routine.’
As for the over-the-counter medications available, Jeremy says most are the same, but in Spain “you just have to ask the pharmacist or describe your symptoms” as they are not on display for collection.
The gourmet explains that in Spanish pharmacies you can find “mainly skin care products, perfumes, special shampoos or mouthwashes”
Another big difference that Jeremy highlights is the fact that Spain has free healthcare.
For this reason, he says, “when someone is not feeling well, pharmacists often act as the first line of defense.”
He continues: “They will tell you whether or not you need to go to the doctor.”
For this reason, he says, “when someone is not feeling well, pharmacists often act as the first line of defense.”
Finally, Jeremy tells his 2.1 million followers: “And of course, brand name drugs are a fraction of the price.”
After visiting “most EU countries,” the TikTok creator says Spain’s system is “pretty standard,” “but there are countries like the Netherlands that have a lot of over-the-counter offerings that you can get yourself.”
To date, Jeremy’s video has been viewed over 95,000 times and many viewers have expressed their opinions on the matter.
One commenter wrote: “Yes, I’ll take Spain’s system over the US-style capitalism any day.”
Another viewer vented: ‘The American system is broken for patients and pharmacists!
“Counting pills is a time-consuming task. Long delays in prescription delivery are becoming more common and pharmacist strikes are taking place.”