Pharmaceutical sales system, store terminal device, pharmaceutical sales method, and program

Abstract

The present invention enables an increase in convenience of a user in sale of pharmaceuticals. A product information acquisition unit (21) acquires product information relating to one or more products that a customer desires to purchase. A determination unit (22) determines whether or not a predetermined pharmaceutical is included in the one or more products on the basis of the acquired product information. When it is determined that the predetermined pharmaceutical is included in the one or more products to be purchased, a communication unit (23) communicates with an approver terminal device (30) used by an approver. The approver decides whether or not to authorize the sale of the predetermined pharmaceutical. When the approver inputs, to the approver terminal device (30), an approval result indicating the sales authorization, a sales processing unit (24) carries out a sales process for the one or more products including the predetermined pharmaceutical.

Description

Pharmaceutical sales system, store terminal device, pharmaceutical sales method, and computer-readable medium

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a pharmaceutical sales system, a store terminal device, a pharmaceutical sales method, and a computer-readable medium.

[0002] In Japan, medicines available for purchase by general consumers at drugstores or stores such as supermarkets that handle pharmaceuticals, i.e., OTC (Over-the-Counter) medicines, are broadly categorized into prescription drugs and non-prescription drugs. Non-prescription drugs are further categorized into Category 1, Category 2, and Category 3 drugs. In Japan, the method of purchasing OTC drugs differs depending on the level of risk stipulated by law. When a customer purchases a prescription drug or a Category 1 drug at a store such as a drugstore, the customer must purchase the drug from a pharmacist. Therefore, when the pharmacist is not at the store, such as at night or on holidays, the customer cannot purchase prescription drugs or Category 1 drugs.

[0003] In relation to the above problem, Patent Document 1 discloses a data processing system used in a store that sells OTC drugs to general consumers. In the data processing system described in Patent Document 1, the data processing device is installed in the back yard of a store such as a convenience store. The data processing device is connected to a store communication terminal installed in the store via a communication network such as an in-house LAN (Local Area Network). The data processing device is also connected via the Internet to a pharmacist communication terminal installed in a room in the convenience store's headquarters facility. In Patent Document 1, the pharmacist is not in the store but is stationed in a room in the headquarters facility where the pharmacist communication terminal is installed.

[0004] In the store, the store communication terminal is placed in a location where prescription drugs and Category 1 drugs are displayed. A signboard bearing a message such as "If you wish to purchase a drug, please call this number to contact a pharmacist and have a ticket issued" is also placed near the store communication terminal. A general consumer wishing to purchase a prescription drug or Category 1 drug operates the store communication terminal. When the general consumer operates the store communication terminal, the data processing device transmits a request to open a call line to the pharmacist communication terminal. When the pharmacist executes a call start operation on the pharmacist terminal, the data processing device opens a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) line between the store communication terminal and the pharmacist communication terminal.

[0005] General consumers can consult with pharmacists via IP (Internet Protocol) telephone about prescription drugs or Category 1 drugs they wish to purchase. The pharmacist talks with the general consumer and decides whether to allow the sale of the prescription drug or Category 1 drug. If the pharmacist allows the sale of the OTC drug, he or she sends a drug sales permission command to a data processing device via a pharmacist communication terminal. When the data processing device receives the drug sales permission command, it sends drug sales permission data to a store communication terminal. When the store communication terminal receives the drug sales permission data, it issues a drug sales permission ticket. The general consumer goes to a POS (Point of Sale) terminal with the prescription drug or Category 1 drug and the drug sales permission ticket. The POS terminal allows the sale of the prescription drug or Category 1 drug only if a drug sales permission ticket has been issued.

[0006] JP 2009-211314 A

[0007] In Patent Document 1, customers who purchase pharmaceuticals requiring a pharmacist's sales authorization, such as prescription-only pharmaceuticals or Category 1 pharmaceuticals, can consult with a pharmacist about the pharmaceutical even if the pharmacist is not on-site at the store. The pharmacist can also authorize the sale of the pharmaceutical to the customer. However, in Patent Document 1, before going to the POS terminal, the customer must operate a store communication terminal in the area where the pharmaceuticals are displayed and have the pharmacist issue a sales authorization ticket. In Patent Document 1, although signs informing customers that a sales authorization ticket is required are installed in the sales floor, customers may not know exactly which pharmaceuticals require a pharmacist's authorization. If a customer goes to the POS terminal without receiving a sales authorization ticket, the customer must return to the sales floor to receive a sales authorization ticket.

[0008] In view of the above circumstances, the present disclosure aims to provide a pharmaceutical sales system, a store terminal device, a pharmaceutical sales method, and a computer-readable medium that can improve user convenience in the sale of pharmaceuticals.

[0009] To achieve the above object, the present disclosure provides, as a first aspect, a store terminal device, the store terminal device including: a product information acquisition unit that acquires product information of one or more products that a customer wishes to purchase; a determination unit that determines whether the one or more products contain a predetermined drug based on the acquired product information; a communication unit that performs communication with an approver terminal device used by an approver that decides whether to approve the sale of the predetermined drug when it is determined that the one or more products contain the predetermined drug; and a sales processing unit that performs sales processing of the one or more products that contain the predetermined drug when the approver inputs an approval result indicating approval for sale to the approver terminal device.

[0010] In a second aspect, the present disclosure provides a pharmaceutical sales system. The pharmaceutical sales system includes one or more store terminal devices and an approver terminal device connected to the one or more store terminal devices via a network. The store terminal device includes a product information acquisition unit that acquires product information for one or more products desired to be purchased by a customer, a determination unit that determines whether the one or more products contain a predetermined pharmaceutical based on the acquired product information, a communication unit that communicates with the approver terminal device when it is determined that the one or more products contain the predetermined pharmaceutical, and a sales processing unit that performs sales processing for the one or more products containing the predetermined pharmaceutical when the approver inputs an approval result indicating sales permission to the approver terminal device. The approver terminal device includes a communication unit that communicates with the store terminal device and an approval result input unit that transmits the approval result input by the approver, indicating whether or not to permit the sale of the predetermined pharmaceutical, to the store terminal device.

[0011] The present disclosure provides, as a third aspect, a pharmaceutical sales method, which includes: acquiring product information of one or more products that a customer desires to purchase; determining whether the one or more products contain a predetermined pharmaceutical based on the acquired product information; if it is determined that the one or more products contain the predetermined pharmaceutical, inquiring of whether the sale of the predetermined pharmaceutical is permitted to an approver terminal device used by an approver who decides whether to permit the sale of the predetermined pharmaceutical; and, if the approver inputs an approval result indicating permission to sell the predetermined pharmaceutical to the approver terminal device, performing a sales process for the one or more products containing the predetermined pharmaceutical.

[0012] In a fourth aspect, the present disclosure provides a computer-readable medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute processing including acquiring product information of one or more products desired to be purchased by a customer, determining whether the one or more products contain a predetermined drug based on the acquired product information, inquiring whether the sale of the predetermined drug is permitted to an approver terminal device used by an approver who decides whether to permit the sale of the predetermined drug if it is determined that the one or more products contain the predetermined drug, and, if the approver inputs an approval result indicating permission to sell the predetermined drug to the approver terminal device, performing sales processing of the one or more products containing the predetermined drug.

[0013] The pharmaceutical sales system, store terminal device, pharmaceutical sales method, and computer-readable medium according to the present disclosure can improve user convenience in the sale of pharmaceuticals.

[0014] A block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a pharmaceutical sales system according to the present disclosure. A block diagram showing a pharmaceutical sales system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. A block diagram showing an example configuration of a store terminal device. A block diagram showing an example configuration of a pharmacist terminal device. A flowchart showing the operation procedure of a store terminal device. A flowchart showing the operation procedure of a pharmacist terminal device. A block diagram showing an example configuration of a computer device.

[0015] Prior to describing embodiments of the present disclosure, an overview of the present disclosure will be described. FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the configuration of a pharmaceutical sales system according to the present disclosure. The pharmaceutical sales system 10 includes one or more store terminal devices 20 and an approver terminal device 30. In the pharmaceutical sales system 10, the approver terminal device 30 is a terminal device used by an approver who determines whether or not to permit the sale of a specific pharmaceutical. The approver terminal device 30 is connected to one or more store terminal devices 20 via a network.

[0016] The store terminal device 20 has a product information acquisition unit 21, a determination unit 22, a communication unit 23, and a sales processing unit 24. The product information acquisition unit 21 acquires product information for one or more products that a customer wishes to purchase. The determination unit 22 determines whether or not a specified medicine is included in one or more products based on the product information acquired by the product information acquisition unit 21. If it is determined that the specified medicine is included in one or more products, the communication unit 23 communicates with the approver terminal device 30.

[0017] The approver terminal device 30 has a communication unit 31 and an approval result input unit 32. The communication unit 31 communicates with the store terminal device 20. The approver inputs an approval result indicating whether or not to permit the sale of a specified pharmaceutical product to the approver terminal device 30. The approval result input unit 32 transmits the approval result input by the approver to the store terminal device 20. When the approver inputs an approval result indicating permission to sell to the approver terminal device 30, the sales processing unit 24 of the store terminal device 20 performs sales processing for one or more products including the specified pharmaceutical product.

[0018] In the present disclosure, the determination unit 22 determines whether the product purchased by the customer contains a predetermined drug that requires a sales authorization from an approver. If the purchased product contains the predetermined drug, the communication unit 23 communicates with the approver terminal device 30 and inquires of the approver terminal device 30 whether the predetermined drug can be sold. If the approver has authorized the sale, the sales processing unit 24 performs sales processing for the purchased product that contains the predetermined drug. In the present disclosure, during sales processing, i.e., at the time of checkout, it is determined whether the purchased product contains the predetermined drug, and if the purchased product contains the predetermined drug, communication is performed between the store terminal device 20 and the approver terminal device 30. In the present disclosure, the customer is not required to have a sales authorization in the drug sales area. Therefore, the present disclosure can improve user convenience in drug sales.

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the following description and drawings have been omitted or simplified as appropriate for clarity of explanation. In addition, in the following drawings, the same or similar elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations will be omitted as necessary.

[0020] 2 shows a pharmaceutical sales system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The pharmaceutical sales system 100 includes one or more store terminal devices 110 and a pharmacist terminal device 130. Each of the one or more store terminal devices 110 is disposed in a store 200 that sells pharmaceuticals, such as a drug store. The store terminal device 110 has, for example, the functionality of a POS terminal. The store terminal device 110 may also be, for example, a self-checkout register where customers can perform operations from registering purchased items to paying for them themselves.

[0021] The pharmacist terminal device 130 is located in a pharmacist resident department 220 located away from the store 200. The pharmacist resident department 220 is provided, for example, in a room in an office where a pharmacist works. The store terminal device 110 and the pharmacist terminal device 130 are connected to each other via a communication network such as the Internet. The pharmaceutical sales system 100 corresponds to the pharmaceutical sales system 10 shown in FIG. 1. The store terminal device 110 corresponds to the store terminal device 20 shown in FIG. 1. The pharmacist terminal device 130 corresponds to the approver terminal device 30 shown in FIG. 1.

[0022] 2 illustrates three store terminal devices 110 and one pharmacist terminal device 130, the number of store terminal devices 110 and the number of pharmacist terminal devices 130 are not limited to these in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the pharmaceutical sales system 100 may have four or more store terminal devices 110. The pharmaceutical sales system 100 may also have two or more pharmacist terminal devices 130. In this case, the number of pharmacist terminal devices 130 may be fewer than the number of store terminal devices 110.

[0023] For example, in the pharmaceutical sales system 100, multiple store terminal devices 110 may be grouped into multiple groups, and one pharmacist terminal device 130 may be provided for each group. Furthermore, pharmacist resident departments 220 may be provided for each predetermined region, and the pharmacist terminal devices 130 provided in the pharmacist resident departments 220 in each region may be connected via a network to store terminal devices 110 provided in each of multiple stores 200 within the region. The number of store terminal devices 110 provided in a store 200 is not limited to one, and multiple store terminal devices 110 may be provided in the store 200. Similarly, multiple pharmacist terminal devices 130 may be provided in the pharmacist resident department 220.

[0024] 3 shows an example configuration of the store terminal device 110. The store terminal device 110 has a product information acquisition unit 111, a customer information acquisition unit 112, a determination unit 113, a communication unit 114, a sales processing unit 115, a body temperature measurement unit 116, a camera 117, a microphone 118, a display 119, and a store clerk notification unit 120. The store terminal device 110 may be configured as a device having one or more processors and one or more memories. For example, at least some of the functions of the product information acquisition unit 111, the customer information acquisition unit 112, the determination unit 113, the communication unit 114, and the sales processing unit 115 may be realized by the processor executing processing in accordance with instructions read from the memory.

[0025] The product information acquisition unit 111 acquires product information of the product purchased by the customer. The product information includes product identification information. The product information acquisition unit 111 includes a code reader, such as a barcode reader, that optically reads a code attached to the product. In this case, the customer causes the code reader to read the code attached to the product. The product information acquisition unit 111 acquires the read code as product information. The product information acquisition unit 111 may also acquire product information from a wireless tag, such as an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag, attached to the product. The product information acquisition unit 111 corresponds to the product information acquisition unit 21 shown in FIG. 1.

[0026] The determination unit 113 determines whether the product purchased by the customer includes a predetermined drug based on the product information acquired by the product information acquisition unit 111. In this embodiment, the predetermined drug is a drug that the customer can purchase if it is authorized or approved by a person who decides whether to permit or approve the sale of the drug. The person who decides whether to permit or approve the sale of the drug is also called an approver. In this embodiment, the approver is a nationally certified pharmacist. Furthermore, the predetermined drug is a drug that must be purchased from a pharmacist, i.e., a prescription-only drug and a Class 1 drug. The approver is not limited to a pharmacist in the strict sense, and may be a qualified person who has been granted a predetermined qualification for drug sales by a public or non-public institution. The determination unit 113 corresponds to the determination unit 22 shown in FIG. 1.

[0027] The customer information acquisition unit 112 acquires customer information of customers who purchase products. The customer information includes information for identifying the customer. The customer information acquisition unit 112 acquires customer information from, for example, an identification card such as a driver's license or an insurance card. The customer information acquisition unit 112 includes, for example, a scanner or a camera, and acquires an image of the identification card. The customer information acquisition unit 112 performs image analysis on the acquired image to acquire information such as address, name, and date of birth as customer information. If the identification card includes a facial photograph, i.e., a facial image, the customer information acquisition unit 112 may check whether the customer matches the person on the identification card by comparing the facial image of the person presenting the identification card with the facial image on the identification card. The customer information acquisition unit 112 may include a magnetic sensor and acquire customer information from a magnetic stripe attached to the identification card. Alternatively, the customer information acquisition unit 112 may include a wired or wireless communication device and read customer information stored in an integrated circuit (IC) of the identification card.

[0028] In addition to determining whether the product purchased by the customer includes a predetermined drug, the determination unit 113 may also determine whether the product purchased by the customer includes a drug that requires a record-keeping requirement. Here, a drug that requires a record-keeping requirement refers to a drug for which a person such as a pharmacist is required to record the amount and to whom the drug is transferred. The customer information acquisition unit 112 may acquire customer information when the product purchased by the customer includes a drug that requires a record-keeping requirement. The source of customer information acquisition is not limited to an identification card; the customer information acquisition unit 112 may acquire customer information from a card such as a membership card or a point card. Alternatively, the customer information acquisition unit 112 may acquire customer information by performing facial recognition on a facial image of the customer captured using a camera that acquires an image of a facial region. If individual customer identification is not required, the customer information acquisition unit 112 may be omitted.

[0029] When the determination unit 113 determines that the product purchased by the customer contains a predetermined drug, the communication unit 114 establishes communication between the store terminal device 110 and the pharmacist terminal device 130 (see FIG. 2 ). The communication unit 114, for example, opens an IP telephone line between the store terminal device 110 and the pharmacist terminal device 130. The communication unit 114 may transmit product information about the predetermined drug acquired by the product information acquisition unit 111 to the pharmacist terminal device 130. The communication unit 114 may also transmit customer information acquired by the customer information acquisition unit 112 to the pharmacist terminal device 130. The communication unit 114 corresponds to the communication unit 23 shown in FIG. 1 .

[0030] The body temperature measurement unit 116 measures the body temperature of a customer purchasing a product. The body temperature measurement unit 116 includes, for example, a non-contact thermometer that detects infrared rays emitted from the person being measured and measures the body temperature based on the detected infrared rays. The body temperature measurement unit 116 measures the body temperature of the customer, for example, while the customer is having the product information acquisition unit 111 acquire product information. The body temperature measurement unit 116 may measure the body temperature of the customer when it receives an instruction to measure the body temperature from the pharmacist terminal device 130. The communication unit 114 may transmit the measured body temperature to the pharmacist terminal device 130.

[0031] The camera 117 is a camera that captures an image of a predetermined area, including the face, of a customer purchasing a product. The microphone 118 is a microphone that captures the voice of the customer purchasing a product. The display 119 includes a display device, such as a liquid crystal display device or an organic electroluminescence (EL) display. The display 119 displays various information to the customer purchasing a product. After the IP telephone line is opened, the customer can use the microphone 118 to talk to the pharmacist using the pharmacist terminal device 130. The customer may also use the camera 117 and the display 119 to talk to the pharmacist via videophone.

[0032] The body temperature measurement unit 116, the camera 117, the microphone 118, and the display 119 do not necessarily have to be part of the store terminal device 110. At least one of the body temperature measurement unit 116, the camera 117, the microphone 118, and the display 119 may be an external device connected to the store terminal device 110.

[0033] 4 shows an example configuration of the pharmacist terminal device 130. The pharmacist terminal device 130 has a communication unit 131, an approval result input unit 132, a camera 133, a microphone 134, and a display 135. The pharmacist terminal device 130 may be configured as a device having one or more processors and one or more memories. For example, at least some of the functions of the communication unit 131 and the approval result input unit 132 may be realized by the processor executing processing in accordance with instructions read from the memory.

[0034] The communication unit 131 establishes communication between the pharmacist terminal device 130 and the store terminal device 110. The communication unit 131 establishes communication between the pharmacist terminal device 130 and a store terminal device 110 among the multiple store terminal devices 110 (see FIG. 2 ) that has been determined by the determination unit 113 that the product purchased by the customer includes a predetermined drug. The communication unit 114, for example, opens an IP telephone line between the store terminal device 110 and the pharmacist terminal device 130. The communication unit 131 also receives product information about the predetermined drug and customer information from the store terminal device 110. The communication unit 131 corresponds to the communication unit 31 shown in FIG. 1.

[0035] The camera 133 is a camera that captures an image of the pharmacist's facial area. The microphone 134 is a microphone that captures the pharmacist's voice. The display 135 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display device or an organic EL display. The display 135 may be a touch panel. The display 135 displays various information to the pharmacist. After the IP telephone line is opened, the pharmacist can use the microphone 134 to talk to a customer using the store terminal device 110. The pharmacist may also use the camera 133 and the display 135 to talk to the customer via video phone. The display 135 may display product information and customer information for a specified drug received from the store terminal device 110. The display 135 may also display detailed information for a specified drug obtained from a database (not shown).

[0036] The camera 133, the microphone 134, and the display 135 do not necessarily have to be part of the pharmacist terminal device 130. At least one of the camera 133, the microphone 134, and the display 135 may be an external device connected to the pharmacist terminal device 130.

[0037] For example, a pharmacist may talk to a customer via videophone and decide whether to allow the sale of a prescribed drug. In the conversation with the customer, the pharmacist may obtain information related to the sale of the drug from the customer. When talking with a customer via videophone, the pharmacist may observe the customer's facial expressions, etc. The pharmacist may provide the customer with information about the prescribed drug and provide an explanation about the prescribed drug.

[0038] A pharmacist decides whether or not to measure a customer's temperature when selling a medicine. For example, the pharmacist may decide whether or not to measure a customer's temperature depending on the medicine or its type that the customer is purchasing. For example, if the medicine the customer is purchasing is a type of medicine, such as cold medicine, in which the appropriate medicine changes depending on whether the customer has a fever, the pharmacist may decide to measure the customer's temperature. In this case, the pharmacist presses a temperature measurement button displayed on a touch panel, for example. When the temperature measurement button is pressed, the pharmacist terminal device 130 sends a temperature measurement instruction to the store terminal device 110.

[0039] Alternatively, the pharmacist terminal device 130 may store information indicating whether or not a body temperature measurement is required for each drug or each type of drug. If the drug purchased by a customer is a drug that requires a body temperature measurement, the pharmacist terminal device 130 may send a body temperature measurement instruction to the store terminal device 110. Alternatively, if the drug purchased by a customer is a drug that requires a body temperature measurement, the pharmacist terminal device 130 may display a body temperature measurement button on the display 135. When the pharmacist presses the body temperature measurement button, the pharmacist terminal device 130 sends a body temperature measurement instruction to the store terminal device 110.

[0040] When the store terminal device 110 receives an instruction to measure the temperature, the temperature measurement unit 116 measures the customer's temperature. The measured temperature is sent from the store terminal device 110 to the pharmacist terminal device 130 and displayed on the display 135. The pharmacist refers to the temperature measurement result and determines whether the product purchased by the customer is an appropriate medicine. If there is another medicine that is more appropriate than the medicine purchased by the customer, the pharmacist may suggest the other medicine to the customer. For example, if the customer has a high body temperature and the medicine purchased by the customer is not very effective in reducing fever, the pharmacist can suggest the customer another medicine with a stronger fever-reducing effect.

[0041] The pharmacist terminal device 130 may display historical information about drugs previously purchased by a customer who is purchasing a drug on the display 135. For example, when customer information is transmitted from the store terminal device 110, the pharmacist terminal device 130 may use the customer information to identify the customer who is purchasing the drug and obtain historical information about drugs previously purchased by the customer from a database (not shown). Alternatively, the pharmacist may obtain information such as the customer's name and date of birth from the customer and input the obtained information into the pharmacist terminal device 130. In this case, the pharmacist terminal device 130 may identify the customer using the input information and display historical information about drugs previously purchased by the customer on the display 135. When historical information about purchased drugs is stored in the customer's health insurance card, the customer information acquisition unit 112 of the store terminal device 110 may obtain the historical information about purchased drugs from the health insurance card and transmit the obtained historical information to the pharmacist terminal device 130.

[0042] If the drug purchased by the customer is addictive and not permitted for regular use, the pharmacist terminal device 130 may display the history information of the purchased drug on the display 135. The pharmacist terminal device 130 may change the period of the history information of the purchased drug displayed on the display 135 depending on the drug purchased by the customer.

[0043] The pharmacist can check the purchase history information of the medicines displayed on the display 135 and decide whether to allow the sale of a certain medicine. For example, the pharmacist checks whether the customer has repeatedly purchased the same medicine within a short period of time. For example, if a customer has come to buy a 10-day supply of medicine for three consecutive days, the pharmacist may decide not to allow the sale of that medicine. If the pharmacist does not allow the sale, he or she may suggest a less addictive medicine to the customer as an alternative medicine.

[0044] The pharmacist inputs an approval result indicating whether or not to permit the sale of a specified drug into the approval result input unit 132. If the pharmacist permits the sale of the specified drug, the approval result input unit 132 transmits an approval result indicating permission for sale to the store terminal device 110. If the pharmacist does not permit the sale of the specified drug, the approval result input unit 132 transmits an approval result indicating that sale is not permitted to the store terminal device 110. The pharmacist terminal device 130 may delete the specified drug that is not permitted for sale from the items that can be purchased by the customer in the store terminal device 110. The approval result input unit 132 corresponds to the approval result input unit 32 shown in FIG. 1 .

[0045] 3 , when the product purchased by the customer includes a predetermined medicine and the pharmacist has authorized the sale of the predetermined medicine, the clerk notification unit 120 notifies the clerk, i.e., an employee of the store 200, that the sale of the predetermined medicine has been authorized. For example, the clerk notification unit 120 notifies the clerk monitoring the self-checkout register that the sale of the predetermined medicine has been authorized. For example, the clerk notification unit 120 transmits product information about the predetermined medicine to a device such as a computer device or a wearable terminal used by the clerk.

[0046] The device used by the clerk displays information identifying the specified medicine that has been permitted for sale. The clerk, for example, picks up the specified medicine in the back room and carries it to the self-checkout register. The clerk may have the product information acquisition unit 111 acquire product information about the specified medicine and check whether the specified medicine that the pharmacist has permitted for sale and the medicine that the clerk picked up are the same medicine. If the pharmacist does not permit the sale of the specified medicine, the clerk notification unit 120 notifies the clerk of information about the specified medicine that has not been permitted for sale.

[0047] The sales processing unit 115 performs sales processing for the product for which the product information acquisition unit 111 has acquired product information. The sales processing unit 115 performs sales processing for a specified drug when an approval result indicating that the drug is permitted to be sold is received from the pharmacist terminal device 130. After paying, the customer receives the specified drug from the store clerk. When an approval result indicating that the drug is not permitted to be sold is received from the pharmacist terminal device 130, the sales processing unit 115 excludes the specified drug from the products purchased by the customer. In this case, the sales processing unit 115 performs sales processing for products other than the specified drug.

[0048] Next, the operation procedure will be explained. FIG. 5 shows the operation procedure of the store terminal device 110. The operation procedure of the store terminal device 110 is also called a pharmaceutical sales method. A customer places one or more products to be purchased in a basket or the like at the sales floor and moves to the self-checkout register. For a specific pharmaceutical, the customer may carry an empty box of the specific pharmaceutical or a tag with the specific pharmaceutical's barcode printed on it to the self-checkout register. The customer information acquisition unit 112 acquires customer information of the customer at the self-checkout register (step A1). The customer information acquisition unit 112 acquires customer information from, for example, an identification card presented by the customer. The product information acquisition unit 111 sends the acquired product information to the sales processing unit 115.

[0049] The product information acquisition unit 111 acquires product information of the product purchased by the customer (step A2). For example, the customer holds the product over a barcode reader to cause the product information acquisition unit 111 to acquire the product information. For a specified medicine, the customer can cause the product information acquisition unit 111 to acquire the product information of the specified medicine by holding an empty box or a tag with a barcode printed on it over the barcode reader. Note that either step A1 or step A2 may be performed first. Step A1 may be performed when product information of a medicine for which there is an obligation to record the order is acquired in step A2.

[0050] When the product information of all the products to be purchased has been acquired, the customer presses a checkout button, etc. When the checkout button is pressed, the determination unit 113 determines whether the products to be purchased by the customer include a predetermined drug (step A3). The determination unit 113 may determine whether the product is a predetermined drug each time product information is acquired, rather than after the checkout button is pressed.

[0051] If it is determined in step A3 that the purchased goods include a predetermined medicine, the communication unit 114 connects to the pharmacist terminal device 130 and establishes communication between the store terminal device 110 and the pharmacist terminal device 130 (step A4). In step A4, the communication unit 114 calls the pharmacist terminal device 130 and opens an IP telephone line with the pharmacist terminal device 130. The sales processing unit 115 waits for the sales processing to finish until an approval result is received from the pharmacist terminal device 130.

[0052] 6 shows the operation procedure of the pharmacist terminal device 130. When called by the store terminal device 110, the communication unit 131 of the pharmacist terminal device 130 connects to the store terminal device 110 and establishes communication between the store terminal device 110 and the pharmacist terminal device 130 (step B1). The pharmacist terminal device 130 displays customer information and product information for a specified drug on the display 135. The pharmacist converses with the customer while referring to the displayed information and decides whether to approve the sale of the specified drug. The pharmacist inputs the approval result, i.e., information indicating whether to approve the sale of the specified drug, into the approval result input unit 132 (step B2).

[0053] The approval result input unit 132 determines whether the approval result input in step B2 indicates permission for sale, i.e., whether the pharmacist has authorized the sale of the specified drug (step B3). If the pharmacist has authorized the sale of the specified drug, the approval result input unit 132 transmits an approval result indicating permission for sale to the store terminal device 110 (step B4). If the pharmacist has not authorized the sale of the specified drug, the approval result input unit 132 deletes the product information of the specified drug that is not authorized for sale from the product information acquired in step A2 (see FIG. 5) by the store terminal device 110 (step B5). In addition, the approval result input unit 132 transmits an approval result indicating that sale is not permitted to the store terminal device 110.

[0054] Returning to FIG. 5 , the sales processing unit 115 of the store terminal device 110 receives the approval result from the pharmacist terminal device 130 (step A5). The clerk notification unit 120 notifies the clerk of the approval result (step A6). If the approval result indicates that the drug is permitted for sale, the clerk notification unit 120 displays information about the specified drug that is permitted for sale on the terminal used by the clerk. The clerk carries the specified drug, for example, from the location where the drug is stored to the self-checkout register. If the approval result indicates that the drug is not permitted for sale, the clerk collects the empty box of the specified drug or the tag with the barcode printed on it.

[0055] When the approval result is received, the sales processing unit 115 cancels the standby state and performs sales processing for the product (step A7). When the sales processing unit 115 receives an approval result indicating sales permission from the pharmacist terminal device 130, it performs sales processing for the product including the specified medicine. When the sales processing unit 115 receives an approval result indicating sales prohibition from the pharmacist terminal device 130, it performs sales processing for the product excluding the specified medicine. When it is determined in step A3 that the purchased product does not include the specified medicine, the process proceeds to step A7, and the sales processing unit 115 performs sales processing.

[0056] In this embodiment, the product information acquisition unit 111 acquires product information for a product purchased by a customer. The determination unit 113 determines whether the product purchased by the customer includes a specified drug that requires permission from a pharmacist. If the purchased product includes a specified drug, the communication unit 114 opens an IP telephone line with the pharmacist terminal device 130. The pharmacist can obtain information such as symptoms from the customer through the IP telephone line and can also explain the specified drug to the customer. If the pharmacist has given permission to sell the specified drug, the sales processing unit 115 performs sales processing for the purchased product.

[0057] In this embodiment, after acquiring product information, if the purchased products include a specified drug, the store terminal device 110 is connected to the pharmacist terminal device 130, and an IP telephone line is opened. In this embodiment, for prescription drugs and Category 1 drugs that require a pharmacist's permission, the customer does not need to obtain sales permission from the pharmacist before proceeding to the register. In this embodiment, the customer can proceed to the register without being aware of whether the drug they are purchasing is a prescription drug or Category 1 drug. Therefore, this embodiment can improve user convenience in the sale of drugs.

[0058] In this embodiment, a pharmacist can remotely explain about pharmaceuticals to customers. This allows customers to purchase prescription-only pharmaceuticals and Category 1 pharmaceuticals even when a pharmacist is not present in the store. In addition, in this embodiment, one pharmacist can authorize the sale of a given pharmaceutical at multiple stores.

[0059] In the present disclosure, the store terminal device 110 and the pharmacist terminal device 130 may be configured using a computer device or a server device. Fig. 7 shows an example configuration of a computer device that may be used for the store terminal device 110 and the pharmacist terminal device 130. The computer device 500 has a control unit (CPU: Central Processing Unit) 510, a storage unit 520, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 530, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 540, a communication interface (IF: Interface) 550, and a user interface 560.

[0060] The communication interface 550 is an interface for connecting the computer device 500 to a communication network via wired communication means, wireless communication means, etc. The user interface 560 includes a display unit such as a display, and an input unit such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel.

[0061] The storage unit 520 is an auxiliary storage device that can store various types of data. The storage unit 520 does not necessarily have to be a part of the computer device 500, but may be an external storage device or cloud storage connected to the computer device 500 via a network. The storage unit 520 can be used as the statistical information storage unit 170 (see FIG. 3 ).

[0062] The ROM 530 is a non-volatile storage device. For example, a semiconductor storage device such as a flash memory with a relatively small capacity is used for the ROM 530. The programs executed by the CPU 510 can be stored in the storage unit 520 or the ROM 530. The storage unit 520 or the ROM 530 stores various programs for realizing the functions of each unit in the store terminal device 110 or the functions of each unit in the pharmacist terminal device 130, for example.

[0063] The program includes instructions (or software code) that, when loaded into a computer, cause the computer to perform one or more functions described in the embodiments. The program may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium or a tangible storage medium. By way of example and not limitation, computer-readable media or tangible storage media include random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, solid-state drive (SSD) or other memory technologies, compact discs (CDs), digital versatile discs (DVDs), Blu-ray discs or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tapes, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices. The program may also be transmitted on a transitory computer-readable medium or communication medium. By way of example and not limitation, transitory computer-readable media or communication media include electrical, optical, acoustic, or other forms of propagated signals.

[0064] The RAM 540 is a volatile storage device. Various semiconductor memory devices such as DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) or SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) are used for the RAM 540. The RAM 540 can be used as an internal buffer for temporarily storing data, etc. The CPU 510 loads a program stored in the storage unit 520 or the ROM 530 into the RAM 540 and executes it. By the CPU 510 executing the program, the functions of each unit in the store terminal device 110 or the functions of each unit in the pharmacist terminal device 130 can be realized. The CPU 510 may have an internal buffer for temporarily storing data, etc.

[0065] The above describes the embodiments of the present disclosure in detail, but the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments that do not deviate from the spirit of the present disclosure are also included in the present disclosure.

[0066] For example, some or all of the above embodiments can be described as, but are not limited to, the following supplementary notes.

[0067] [Supplementary Note 1] A store terminal device comprising: a product information acquisition unit that acquires product information for one or more products that a customer wishes to purchase; a determination unit that determines whether or not a specified medicine is included in the one or more products based on the acquired product information; a communication unit that performs communication with an approver terminal device used by an approver that decides whether or not to allow the sale of the specified medicine when it is determined that the one or more products contain the specified medicine; and a sales processing unit that performs sales processing for the one or more products that contain the specified medicine when the approver inputs an approval result indicating sales permission to the approver terminal device.

[0068] [Appendix 2] The store terminal device described in Appendix 1, wherein the sales processing unit performs sales processing for products excluding the specified pharmaceuticals among the one or more products when the approver inputs an approval result indicating that the product cannot be sold into the approver terminal device.

[0069] [Supplementary Note 3] The store terminal device according to Supplementary Note 1 or 2, further comprising a customer information acquisition unit that acquires customer information about the customer.

[0070] [Supplementary Note 4] The store terminal device according to Supplementary Note 3, wherein the customer information acquisition unit acquires the customer information from an identification card of the customer.

[0071] [Appendix 5] The store terminal device described in Appendix 4, wherein the identification card includes a facial image, and the customer information acquisition unit authenticates the customer by comparing the person presenting the identification card with the facial image on the identification card.

[0072] [Supplementary Note 6] The store terminal device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 5, further comprising a body temperature measuring unit that measures the body temperature of the customer.

[0073] [Appendix 7] The store terminal device described in Appendix 6, wherein the body temperature measurement unit measures the customer's body temperature when instructed to measure body temperature by the approver terminal device, and transmits the body temperature measurement result to the approver terminal device.

[0074] [Appendix 8] A store terminal device described in any one of Appendices 1 to 7, wherein the communication unit opens a telephone line between the store terminal device and the approver terminal device, and enables a call to be made between the approver and the customer.

[0075] [Supplementary Note 9] A pharmaceutical sales system comprising: one or more store terminal devices; and an approver terminal device connected to the one or more store terminal devices via a network, wherein the store terminal device has: a product information acquisition unit that acquires product information for one or more products that a customer wishes to purchase; a determination unit that determines whether the one or more products contain a specified pharmaceutical based on the acquired product information; a communication unit that communicates with the approver terminal device when it is determined that the one or more products contain the specified pharmaceutical; and a sales processing unit that processes the sale of the one or more products that contain the specified pharmaceutical when the approver inputs an approval result indicating sales permission to the approver terminal device, and the approver terminal device has: a communication unit that communicates with the store terminal device; and an approval result input unit that transmits the approval result input by the approver, indicating whether the sale of the specified pharmaceutical is permitted, to the store terminal device.

[0076] [Appendix 10] The pharmaceutical sales system described in Appendix 9, wherein the sales processing unit performs sales processing for products excluding the specified pharmaceutical among the one or more products when the approver inputs an approval result indicating that the product cannot be sold into the approver terminal device.

[0077] [Supplementary Note 11] The pharmaceutical sales system according to Supplementary Note 9 or 10, wherein the store terminal device further includes a customer information acquisition unit that acquires customer information about the customer.

[0078] [Supplementary Note 12] The pharmaceutical sales system according to any one of Supplementary Notes 9 to 11, wherein the store terminal device further includes a body temperature measuring unit that measures the body temperature of the customer.

[0079] [Appendix 13] A pharmaceutical sales system described in any one of Appendices 9 to 12, wherein the communication unit of the store terminal device and the communication unit of the approver terminal device open a telephone line between the store terminal device and the approver terminal device, and a call is made between the approver and the customer.

[0080] [Supplementary Note 14] A pharmaceutical sales method comprising: acquiring product information of one or more products that a customer wishes to purchase; determining whether or not a specified pharmaceutical is included in the one or more products based on the acquired product information; if it is determined that the one or more products contain the specified pharmaceutical, inquiring of whether or not the sale of the specified pharmaceutical is permitted to an approver terminal device used by an approver who decides whether or not to permit the sale of the specified pharmaceutical; and, if the approver inputs an approval result indicating permission for sale to the approver terminal device, performing sales processing of the one or more products that contain the specified pharmaceutical.

[0081] [Supplementary Note 15] A non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores a program for causing a computer to execute a process including: acquiring product information of one or more products that a customer wishes to purchase; determining whether or not a specified drug is included in the one or more products based on the acquired product information; if it is determined that the one or more products contain the specified drug, inquiring of whether or not the sale of the specified drug is permitted to an approver terminal device used by an approver who decides whether or not to permit the sale of the specified drug; and, if the approver inputs an approval result indicating permission for sale to the approver terminal device, performing sales processing of the one or more products that contain the specified drug.

[0082] 10: Pharmaceutical sales system 20: Store terminal device 21: Product information acquisition unit 22: Determination unit 23: Communication unit 24: Sales processing unit 30: Approver terminal device 31: Communication unit 32: Approval result input unit 100: Pharmaceutical sales system 110: Store terminal device 111: Product information acquisition unit 112: Customer information acquisition unit 113: Determination unit 114: Communication unit 115: Sales processing unit 116: Body temperature measurement unit 117: Camera 118: Microphone 119: Display 120: Store clerk notification unit 130: Pharmacist terminal device 131: Communication unit 132: Approval result input unit 133: Camera 134: Microphone 135: Display

Claims

1. a product information acquisition unit that acquires product information of one or more products that a customer wishes to purchase; a determination unit that determines whether or not the one or more products contain a predetermined medicine based on the acquired product information; a communication unit that communicates with an approver terminal device used by an approver who decides whether or not to permit the sale of the predetermined drug when it is determined that the predetermined drug is included in the one or more products; and A store terminal device comprising a sales processing unit that performs sales processing of the one or more products including the specified pharmaceutical product when the approver inputs an approval result indicating sales permission into the approver terminal device.

2. The store terminal device described in claim 1, wherein the sales processing unit performs sales processing for products excluding the specified pharmaceuticals among the one or more products when the approver inputs an approval result indicating that the product cannot be sold into the approver terminal device.

3. The store terminal device according to claim 1 , further comprising a customer information acquisition unit that acquires customer information about the customer.

4. The store terminal device according to claim 3 , wherein the customer information acquisition unit acquires the customer information from an identification card of the customer.

5. the identification card includes a facial image; The store terminal device according to claim 4 , wherein the customer information acquisition unit authenticates the customer by comparing a person presenting the identification card with a facial image on the identification card.

6. The store terminal device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a body temperature measuring unit for measuring the body temperature of the customer.

7. The store terminal device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the communication unit opens a telephone line between the store terminal device and the approver terminal device, and allows a call to be made between the approver and the customer.

8. one or more store terminal devices; an approver terminal device connected to the one or more store terminal devices via a network, The store terminal device a product information acquisition unit that acquires product information of one or more products that a customer wishes to purchase; a determination unit that determines whether or not the one or more products contain a predetermined medicine based on the acquired product information; a communication unit that communicates with the approver terminal device when it is determined that the one or more products contain the predetermined medicine; a sales processing unit that performs sales processing of the one or more products including the predetermined medicine when the approver inputs an approval result indicating sales permission to the approver terminal device, The approver terminal device a communication unit that communicates with the store terminal device; an approval result input unit that transmits an approval result input by the approver, indicating whether or not the sale of the specified drug is permitted, to the store terminal device.

9. Obtain product information for one or more products that the customer wishes to purchase; determining whether the one or more products contain a predetermined drug based on the acquired product information; When it is determined that the one or more products contain the predetermined medicine, an approving person terminal device used by an approving person who decides whether or not to permit the sale of the predetermined medicine is inquired as to whether or not the sale of the predetermined medicine is permitted; A pharmaceutical sales method comprising: when the approver inputs an approval result indicating sales permission to the approver terminal device, carrying out sales processing of the one or more products including the specified pharmaceutical.

10. Obtain product information for one or more products that the customer wishes to purchase; determining whether the one or more products contain a predetermined drug based on the acquired product information; When it is determined that the one or more products contain the predetermined medicine, an approving person terminal device used by an approving person who decides whether or not to permit the sale of the predetermined medicine is inquired as to whether or not the sale of the predetermined medicine is permitted; A program for causing a computer to execute a process that includes carrying out a sales process for one or more products including the specified pharmaceutical product when the approver inputs an approval result indicating sales permission into the approver terminal device.