Supermarkets to sell drugs

pharmacists and druggists can look forward to. The sale of herbal laxatives, rheumatism, preparations, products for heartburn, hair growth agents, and most other over-the-counter medication remains in your Hand. Retailers such as Migros had hoped to be able to such means of self-service in their stores. However, Swissmedic, the regulatory authority for medicinal products, has decided against it.

Now is a resistance. FDP councillor Ruedi Noser, has filed this week a Motion. It has to enable the sale of non-prescription medicines in supermarkets. The experience in countries such as Germany, Austria, France and the Netherlands are to be used as a reference. Drugs, which are lodged there for at least 10 years without any security problems for free, that they also may be everywhere in Switzerland for sale.

Noser criticized the restrictive decision of the Swiss medic. "There is no reason why you should deny the well-informed Swiss citizens safe remedies in the retail sector. This is a totally patronizing." Abroad, many of such medications were for years without negative consequences in the self-service available.

independence of Swissmedic

Swiss medic questioned had received from the Federal Council the mandate to facilitate self-medication and access to medicines. 540 peer-reviewed drugs, however, were divided, only a few in the category E of the over-the-counter medications. This is mainly tea and cough lozenges.

Swiss medic came to the conclusion: "most of The medications tested, are suitable for self-service." For their correct application, there is a need for mandatory counselling. Also homeopathic remedies remain pharmacies and drugstores, reserved, because they are part of a holistic therapy concept.

Dissatisfied with the outcome of Consumer protection. "We are disappointed by the decision of the Swiss medic. In Switzerland, more competition is urgently needed, so that the prices of over-the-counter drugs to decline," said Sara Stalder, Director of consumer protection.

they also criticized the remedy authority. "The Swissmedic has decided, in our opinion, very in favor of the pharmacies. Since the question of how independent the institution is, in fact." Ruedi Noser takes a similar view: "It is questionable whether Swissmedic could independently decide. The representatives of pharmacies, drugstores and suppliers had a great influence in the recent decision."

Migros: "Swissmedic does not act independently"

Swiss medic responds that the scientific assessment is based on clear, known criteria. The authority is based on a nine-member Commission of experts, which assessed a Reallocation of the drugs in free sale. Representatives from pharmacies, drugstores, manufacturers, and Doctors were clearly in the Majority. The retail sector had only one vote.

The major distributors Migros criticised the cure authority in focus. "The decision has shown that The Swissmedic does not act independently. You would have been able to delegate the allocation as well directly to the industry's protectors," says Martin Schläpfer, head of economic policy of the Migros. The retailer had clearly brought better prices than in pharmacies and drug stores in prospect, if the drugs get on the shelves of its super markets.

Migros uses pharmacy group

Migros-man Schläpfer takes in the scramble to free-to-access medication, the pharmacy group Galenica to the visor. "The industry guards have formed a cartel together and prevents safe medicines come in the retail trade. The spider in the web, Galenica." The company rejects the accusation. "The Galenica group was not involved in the decision of the authority, Swiss medic to Reclassification of drugs," says a spokesman.

A liberalisation of drug sales would have threatened the high profit margins of the pharmacies and drugstores and Galenica particularly hard-hit. The company operates the largest pharmacy network in Switzerland, and it supplies as a wholesaler for independent pharmacies, drugstores and hospitals.

The Migros, the chief Fabrice Zumbrunnen sees activities around the theme of health as a strategic cornerstone, meanwhile, found a different way to the lucrative business of medicines concomitantly. Recently, a major retailer, has announced the Acquisition of Topwell pharmacies. This has at its 40 locations in the German part of Switzerland has more than 600 employees.

Migros-competitor, Coop did not want to comment on the recent decision by the Swiss medic. Coop has been operating for several years, the pharmacy chain, Vitality together with Galenica.

(Sunday newspaper)

Created: 15.12.2018, 23:23 PM