The blackout also altered commercial activity in the Pardinyes neighborhood, in Lleida, where the Guillermo Peña Zaldívar pharmacy was forced to interrupt its usual operation due to the failure of the electrical system.
Conxi Espín, worker of the establishment, recounted that the most complicated moments were the initial ones. "The worst were the first minutes due to the uncertainty that there was, you didn't know what was happening, how long it was going to last and everything that reached you were rumors", she explained.
The fall of the system left the dispensing of medicines blocked
The lack of supply prevented the pharmacy from operating normally. During that time, they could only dispense parapharmacy products and charge in cash, without the possibility of processing prescriptions.
Espín specified that the main problem was the impossibility of accessing the usual dispensing circuit. "What was serious was that the entire prescription system was inoperative", he pointed out. That incident directly affected the delivery of medicines, even in cases where clients came with their documentation.
"Even if they came with the documentation, you couldn't give them the medicines," added the worker, describing a situation that left the establishment without the capacity to provide one of its essential services.
The establishment ended up closing due to the lack of foresight
Given the persistence of the cut and upon verifying that the light did not return, the pharmacy opted to close. The maneuver was not simple either, since the blind of the premises operated with an electrical system.
"We couldn't lower the blind as it was electric, but finally we were able to do it with a lever", explained Espín. The incident left an unusual image at this point in Pardinyes, with activity suspended until the supply could be recovered.