When did dispensing prescription drugs by mail potentially begin, forming the foundation for e-pharmacy?

The 1970s

The groundwork for online pharmacy operations, which heavily relied on subsequent digital frameworks, originated with earlier direct-to-consumer medication delivery systems. Specifically, certain operations focused on dispensing prescription drugs via mail had been established as far back as the 1970s. This foundational logistical structure, which involved shipping medications directly to the patient's home, established the necessary playbook for inventory management and home delivery that future e-pharmacies would adapt when the World Wide Web became accessible. The emphasis during this mail-order phase was often on price reduction achieved by minimizing the overhead costs associated with operating traditional retail, brick-and-mortar pharmacies, setting the stage for the convenience model that digital platforms would later refine.