The investigation by the Competition Council was launched three years ago, but interrupted by the pandemic. Now the conclusions have finally been released.
And they are clear: the sector is overregluated. These legal restrictions inhibit competition and prevent the sector from modernising.
Existsing pharmacies repeatedly argued that they were offering a “public service” and working for public health. But the Competition Council won’t accept this as arguments against submitting the market to the rules of competition. There is much scope for improvement in terms of efficiency and cost reduction, aspects which would benefit patients. Capped medication prices need to be abolished according to the Council, pharmacies should work more with generics and improve their inventory management.
Pharmacists should be free to establish their business, and some medication should not be restriced for sale at pharmacies. Another aspect is the sale of medication online. Pharmacists should also take on additional tasks to help compensate for the lack of doctors.
Pharmacies are putting up a strong resistance against all of these propositions. Meanwhile, Minister for Health Paulette Lenert acknowledged in the Chamber of Deputies that this was a very complex issue, but that they were willing to discuss it.
