In 2009, there was a re-regulation which meant that Apoteket AB no longer had the exclusive right to conduct retail trade in pharmaceuticals.
Since then, the number of pharmacies has increased by over 50 percent, according to a report from the Swedish Competition Authority which Swedish Pharmacy reported on.
DON’T MISS: The pharmacist warns: It happens if you eat too many vitamins
Photo: Thomas Traasdahl/NTB/TT
In recent years, several online pharmacies have also become increasingly established, including Apotea, Meds and Apohem.
But already in November 2022 there were proposals for new rules for these pharmacies. This is because the Medical Products Agency has received complaints from customers who claimed that medicines, bought at online pharmacies, did not arrive or were stolen when they were left outside the home.
The proposal in question was still met with fierce criticism. For example, it was critical that an ID check with identification would be required when delivering prescription drugs and that it would be prohibited to leave packages of drugs outside the recipient’s front door.
Photo: Martina Holmberg/TT
DON’T MISS: Apotek Hjärtat introduces age limit on selected goods after alarm
New rules regarding the delivery of medicines
Subsequently, the Medical Products Agency has worked on the proposal, which among others The pharmaceutical world reported on. The ID check will now only apply when narcotic preparations are delivered and other medicines that are considered particularly desirable, for example growth hormones.
However, the ban on leaving medicines unattended at the recipient’s door has not been changed. They must be delivered to a post office box, a delivery point or a delivery box.
These rules will come into effect on November 1, 2025.
DON’T MISS: Medicines run out for 4 out of 10: “Very worrying”
Photo: Carl-Olof Zimmerman/TTMed CEO Björn Thorngren critical
But despite the changes, the debate about the new rules has continued. One that remains critical is Björn Thorngren who is CEO at Meds.
– Despite extensive criticism, the Swedish Medicines Agency has not presented any evidence as to why a change is necessary. Nor have they investigated the consequences of reduced drug availability. It is therefore impossible for referral bodies and also their own board to determine whether the measures are necessary and proportionate, he says to News24 and continues:
– In the decision document received by their own board, it appears that the Swedish Medical Products Agency has registered two cases of theft from customers in the past four years. This includes all calls and emails. In addition to this, they have received around ten views and questions from people. Then the Swedish Medicines Agency reasons that there may be a dark figure in addition to this, without showing any data to support that concern.
Björn Thorngren. Photo: Press image/Meds
According to Thorngren, via the Apoteksföreningen, statistics have been sent in which show that “only one tenth per thousand of all deliveries have some form of deviation”.
– It is usually a matter of a delay or that the package has disappeared at distribution centers, i.e. not out with customers. These figures have been completely ignored by the Swedish Medicines Agency, states the Meds CEO, who also believes that it is easier to steal over-the-counter medicines in shops than it is to steal packages from private plots or gate entrances.
The Swedish Medicines Agency: Some have wanted stricter rules
When Björn Thorngren previously directed criticism against the Swedish Medical Products Agency’s new rules Annika Babrahead of the Swedish Medicines Agency’s pharmacy supervision, and Joakim BrandbergActing Director General of the Swedish Medicines Agency, responded in a reply at SvD.
“Drugs are potent goods that cannot be handled at any time. It is the responsibility of the pharmacy that the right drug is dispensed to the right patient. And it is the responsibility of the Swedish Medicines Agency to ensure that the regulations are designed so that this happens. It requires a careful design of the distribution service that takes into account the recipient’s integrity and safety but also that the medicine is handled correctly so that the quality is not affected. Patient safety must be put first,” they wrote at the time and also meant that they would return receives complaints from consumers whose medicines do not arrive.
It was also highlighted that some wanted to see even tougher rules.
“During the work on the new regulations, around thirty bodies have had to react to the proposal. Many of these bodies have, contrary to Meds, said that the requirements for buying medicines online should be stricter, in some cases stricter than the Swedish Medicines Agency has wanted.”
DON’T MISS: The drug has skyrocketed in price – in just one year
Björn Thorngren: “Significant deterioration” Photo: Linus Sundahl-Djerf/SvD/TT
According to Björn Thorngren, the regulations will mean a “significant deterioration” for customers throughout Sweden, but especially in sparsely populated areas.
– The majority of Sweden’s postcodes do not have access to home delivery with personal delivery with the speed and flexibility that we are used to in the cities. Most packages are too large to leave in a letterbox, country postmen rarely come and require the customer to be at home for a full working day to receive. The cost of these deliveries is many times today’s alternative, which is not compensated by the authorities, he tells Nyheter24.
– In the cities, you now have to stay at home and answer the door for a bid, which many people cannot or do not want. Often such deliveries go awry. On average, the couriers have to make 1.6 delivery attempts as customers do not always open immediately, he continues.
READ MORE: News today – current news from Sweden and the world
DON’T MISS: Latest news – take part in what’s happening right now