Russia. The Government is Back to the Idea of Selling Pharmaceuticals in Retail Chains

The Ministry of Healthcare, the Ministry for Industry and Trade, the Ministry for Economic Development and the Russian Federal Service on Customers' Rights Protection and Human Well-Being Surveillance will prepare a list of OTC drugs to be traded in retail chains.

The idea of permitting retail chains to sell certain pharmaceuticals has been discussed by the Government of the Russian Federation since the autumn of 2012. The Ministry of Healthcare did not back the idea due to the potential risk of increase in low-quality and counterfeit medicines on sale.

In 2013 the Ministry of Healthcare permitted the sale of care products for patients, personal-care products, child nutrition and food additives not only in pharmacies. The Ministry offered the possibility of selling OTC drugs in accordance with the list developed by the Ministry for Industry and Trade. The final version of the list should include vitamins, anti-cold, anti-febrile, gastrointestinal and absorbing medicines, diagnostic devices and products for external use.

Source: vedomosti.ru