Key points
- Over-the-counter medicines will be available for purchase at petrol stations if they have a licence.
- Prescription drugs remain exclusively in pharmacies.
- Requirements for the storage and temperature control of medicines have been established for petrol stations.
- Pharmacies in hospitals are required to sell medicines at the lowest prices.
- Patients will be offered only the three cheapest analogues with the same composition.
The Cabinet of Ministers has adopted decisions aimed at improving the availability of medicines for the population. The changes concern the sale of over-the-counter medicines at petrol stations, as well as the pricing policy of pharmacies operating in state and municipal medical institutions.
From now on, petrol stations that obtain the appropriate licence will be able to sell over-the-counter medicines, including antipyretics and analgesics. This applies exclusively to medicines that do not require a doctor’s prescription. Prescription medicines will continue to be sold only in pharmacies.
The government explains the decision by the need to expand access to basic medicines, especially in wartime. Petrol stations often continue to operate during emergency power cuts or after shelling, making them important for providing the population with essential goods. This practice has long been in place in many European countries, where over-the-counter medicines are sold in supermarkets and petrol stations.
The state has introduced clear requirements for the sale of medicines at petrol stations. These include the availability of a licence, a separate area for storing medicines and compliance with the temperature regime necessary to preserve their quality and safety.
Another decision concerns pharmacies operating on hospital premises. Pharmacies in state and municipal medical institutions are required to offer patients medicines at the lowest prices in accordance with the National Price Catalogue. They must sell only the three cheapest medicines with the same composition, dosage and form of release. This approach should reduce the financial burden on patients and limit the practice of imposing more expensive brands.
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