EC looks at pharmacy restrictions
Regulatory restrictions on community pharmacies across Europe are being examined with a view to a possible European Directive to eliminate national variations, including restrictions on ownership.
ECORYS, a Dutch market analysis company, won a contract from the European
Commission in October 2005 to carry out the work and started its survey
in February. It has to produce a draft final report for the commission
by July 2006.
In February, the company sent national regulatory authorities details
of a password protected online survey, which they were asked to complete.
The survey is divided into five main sections, plus some additional questions.
Details are being gathered on: rules governing entry to the profession
(education, registration, membership of professional associations); professional
rules (restricted titles, ongoing training); rules governing the establishment
of community pharmacies (ownership, contracts with insurers or national
health systems, location, internet pharmacies, foreign competition);
operational rules (opening hours, stock requirements, patient registration,
horizontal and vertical integration); and drug prices and profit margins.
The UK response to the survey is being co-ordinated by the Department
of Health. |
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