The government moved to ban non-prescription medication deliveries by courier companies from next year, pointing to security and protection of pharmacies in smaller towns. However, the move would adversely affect not only several pharmacies, but customers too in the middle of a pandemic, according to critics.
Regulation of prescription-only medications remains unchanged: they can only be bought in pharmacies. However, courier companies could deliver non-prescription medication up until now, for example in case of online ordering. From January 1st this has been made illegal by the government, and non-prescription medication may only be delivered by pharmacies’ professional staff.
With the move, Hungary joins Greece and Bulgaria, the only countries in the EU with such a restriction in effect.
“We had to act now while we are still at the beginning of the process,” president of the Hungarian Chamber Of Pharmacists (MGYK) argued in 24.hu‘s report. According to their estimations, online sales currently account for 1%, but could grow to 15% in 3-5 years.
Zoltán Hankó revealed that recently, a number of high-volume mail-order contracts have come to light. Based on international examples, they expected a fast, dynamic, and aggressive market occupation which would have quickly threatened the survival of pharmacies in small towns, as this would have deprived them of the turnover essential for their existence.
The official’s other main argument was drug security and proper client information. “We didn’t feel that there was a guarantee of tamper-proofing, adequate quality, or the conditions that must be documented and ensured within the closed pharmacy distribution system, with personal liability.” He said that when the courier enters the delivery process, this closed chain is broken and personal responsibility and control are lost.
Similarly to the aforementioned HGYSZ official, Phoenix Pharma’s (one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies) CEO also finds the timing of the amendment surprising, arguing that due to the coronavirus epidemic, an increasing number of people have requested delivery. Tamás Kaló also notes that pharmacies always prepare orders under the supervision of a pharmacist and hand them over in a sealed package to a courier who delivers the package within a few hours. They are not aware of any cases where someone has suffered ill health as a result of a parcel being sent.
In addition, he called attention to the fact that the new regulations don’t deal with drugs sold outside pharmacies (meaning without professional supervision), such as at petrol stations, or in small shops in towns without pharmacies.
On their end, Phoenix Pharma doesn’t expect a major loss of traffic as all other products can still be ordered online, including food supplements, vitamins, and cosmetics. On the other hand, the sales of some other non-pharmaceutical products may additionally fall out of the hands of the pharmacies, he predicts, explaining that chances are that people will buy them through other online channels, which could already cause a loss of income for pharmacies.
The Chamber expects that in parallel with the growing demand of home delivery, pharmacies would be able to gradually adjust to the conditions, but an unnamed source told 24.hu that this is doubtful, due to the shortage in pharmacists.
featured image illustration via Attila Balázs/MTI
