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Since July 2017, 1372 pharmacies have disappeared from the market in Poland – the Association of Pharmacy Employers is alerting. – The “Pharmacy for Aptekarz” Act has transformed the Polish pharmacy market from a typical open system into one of the most stringent and overregulated closed systems in Europe – believes Marcin Piskorski, president of ZPA.
- Since July 2017, the number of pharmacies in Poland has decreased from 13574 to 12, informs the Association of Pharmacy Employers
- Monthly 15-20 new branches are opened, while approx. 70 are closed
- This is the effect of the “Pharmacy for the apothecary” act. – However, the opposite goal was achieved – believes Marcin Piskorski, president of ZPA
- You can find more such information on the TvoiLokony home page
Pharmacies in Poland – over 30 stores are closed every month
According to the Association of Pharmacy Employers, 2017 pharmacies have disappeared from the market since July 1372. Of the 13 pharmacies operating at that time, 574 units remain. This is the effect of the entry into force of the “Pharmacy for the apothecary” act.
«The purpose of the restrictions was to increase the availability of drugs. However, the new regulations caused the number of openings to drop from an average of 100 – 110 per month to 15 – 20 per month. At the same time, the number of closings remained at the level from before the amendment, ie approx. 70 branches per month »- we read in the ZPA letter.
– The counterproductive goal was achieved. Pharmacies keep disappearing from the market when they are most needed. The Polish pharmacy market has shrunk to the level of 2011, during the pandemic, on the eve of the introduction of pharmaceutical care and patient services to pharmacies, which will increase the role of the pharmacy and the demand for its services, believes Marcin Piskorski, president of ZPA.
After three years of operation of the regulations, none of the objectives presented in the justification of the act have been achieved, claim the representatives of the ZPA. They point out that “AdA” did not stop the illegal export of drugs from Poland, pharmacies in Poland did not require repolonization, while the argument about the monopoly of pharmacy chains was misplaced.
– “Pharmacy for a pharmacist” turned the Polish pharmacy market upside down. From a typical open system, it has transformed it into one of the strictest and most over-regulated closed systems in Europe, emphasizes Marcin Piskorski.
“A pharmacy for an apothecary” – what has the amendment changed?
On June 25, 2017, an amendment to the Pharmaceutical Law, popularly known as the “Pharmacy for the Apothecary”, entered into force.
Under the new regulations, a new pharmacy can only be established by a person who is a pharmacist and a general partnership or partnership of pharmacists. The act also introduced geographic and demographic regulations regarding the creation of new pharmacies.
The facility must have at least 3 inhabitants and be at least 500 meters from the existing one, if the municipality has more than 3 thousand. inhabitants per one pharmacy or 1000 meters, if there are less than 3 thousand residents on the pharmacy.
A new pharmacy cannot be established if the owner already had four others.
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